me.”
“My brother had asked me of your whereabouts.” For a moment, Georgiana paused on the threshold, but with a steadying breath, she set her plan into action.With satisfaction, she noted the approval in Edward’s eyes as she approached.
“Are you aware of your brother’s reason for my immediate presence?” He took a step closer as if drawn to her, and Georgiana’s heart did a flip.
She frowned minimally. “Something to do with Her Ladyship and Mrs. Darcy.”
Edward smiled conspiratorially. “I’ve heard no shouting, nor have I observed the servants rushing to tend either lady.”
Georgiana purposely paused under the mistletoe ornament. “It’s a miracle of sorts.”
“Am I to stand guard or to serve as a negotiator?” he asked casually as he stepped into the circle she had imagined as being part of the mistletoe’s magic.
Georgiana smiled widely at him, but her resolve wavered with Edward’s closeness. “Knowing Fitzwilliam,” she said with a breathy catch, “all contingencies are possible.”
Surprisingly, Edward moved closer still, and Georgiana quit breathing. “Well, in the absence of hysterics, I don’t see a need to rush to your brother’s side,” he rasped.
“What shall you do instead?” she managed to murmur. Instinctively, Georgiana’s chin rose in anticipation.
Edward’s palm cupped her chin, and his thumb stroked her lips. “I’d thought to keep a Christmas tradition,” he said softly. “To kiss under the mistletoe the prettiest woman I know. That is, if she’ll have me.”
Georgiana’s heart sang. “Claim the berry, Colonel,” she whispered as she closed her eyes and waited.
Edward didn’t understand what had come over him. He’d awakened this morning with thoughts of Georgiana, and those images had grown into full-fledged desire. He’d made a quick reconnaissance of the house to locate all the mistletoe balls that the ladies had hung yesterday. Then he fantasized throughout Winkler’s sermon about sliding his lips down the slender column of Georgiana’s neck. Now he refused to let this opportunity slip away. He didn’t know when everything had changed between them, but it had, and he had to accept it and move forward.
He’d obsessed over the past few hours about Georgiana’s lips’ softness, and Edward meant to taste them. Her warm breath brushed his cheek as he lowered his head to touch her lips with his. He recognized her innocence, and so, he made himself go slowly. A slight brush. Small kisses planted at the corners.A soft nibble on her bottom lip. The problem with this slow seduction was it was taking away all his self-control.
Edward slid his arms about her and pulled Georgiana closer. With one hand, he lifted her chin to position his mouth over hers. He rested his lips on hers, allowing Georgiana to experience his mouth’s pressure before deepening the kiss. As she leaned into him, Edward slid his tongue along her lips’ seam. When she gasped, he claimed her mouth’s soft tissues.
After a few more seconds of pure pleasure, he forced himself to lift his lips from hers, but Edward’s mouth hovered a breath away from hers. “Georgie, I would kiss you again, but if you do not wish it, you should leave this room now,” he rasped.
“I shall stay,” she managed to say. Georgiana slid her arms about Edward’s neck and rose on her toes to meet his lips with hers.
Edward groaned, and his mouth returned to hers. This time she met his mouth with parted lips. It was so intimate; more intimate than he’d have thought possible. He was not without experience, but Georgiana’s kiss felt perfect — even with her inexperience. His tongue entwined with hers, and she responded tentatively. The kiss deepened as she arched into his embrace.
His practical mind demanded that he cease kissing her, but for the life of him, Edward couldn’t release her. Years of war had branded him as part of the unclean, but Georgiana’s goodness wiped all his dissipation away.
The sound of people moving about the hallway penetrated his desire-driven brain, and he reluctantly raised his head. “You’re so beautiful,” he murmured as he kissed Georgiana’s head as it rested against his chest. He simply held her then as each recovered his breath. If someone would walk in on them, he would simply be Cousin Edward, Miss Darcy’s guardian. Oh, how he wanted to shed that designation and to assume another role in Georgiana’s life.
“Georgie, we cannot stay here any longer,” he said reluctantly.
Slowly, she drew her arms from around his waist. “It was perfect,” she whispered.
Edward smiled lovingly. “Yes, it was.” He caressed her cheek. “Meet me later in the conservatory,” he said. “We should speak privately, but that conversation will be delayed until I see what Darcy requires of me, and then there will be the usual gift exchange and an early supper. Will you wait for me that long, Georgiana — that long before we can speak of what has just happened?”
“I’ve waited for this for over three years. A few more hours shall seem miniscule.”
Edward kissed her nose’s tip, before reaching up and claiming five berries from the overhanging ball. “Extra berries for when we meet privately,” he said teasingly.
“I’ll bring a few of my own,” she said with a husky laugh. “In case we use all of yours and find additional ideas to discuss.”
Darcy’s agitation had increased after his short meeting with Mr. Winkler. The clergyman hadn’t taken well to Darcy’s request to postpone indefinitely his joining with Kitty Bennet. Winkler hadn’t seen the necessity of Kitty waiting until after Georgiana’s Society debut.
“Are you ashamed of Mrs. Darcy’s family?” the clergyman had demanded.
Of course, he had denied the man’s accusation, but as he waited outside the drawing room where his wife and Lady Catherine held court, he wondered once again about his motives. He’d received instructions from his father — repeatedly — on his duty to Georgiana. He couldn’t change his natural inclination to protect his sister, but Mr. Winkler had remained adamant.
“I did not deny the match,” he reasoned. “Simply asked for a long engagement.”
“How long might that be, Mr. Darcy? What if Miss Darcy doesn’t make a match during her first Season? What then? Your sister is beautiful and is wealthy, but she’s of a gentle nature, and I cannot believe you would force Miss Darcy into a match she didn’t desire. If she makes no match, must Miss Catherine and I wait additional Seasons?”
“How am I to know?” Darcy had felt the inadequacy of his response.
The clergyman had stood upon that note. “Mr. Darcy, I respect you, but I’ll not allow you to dictate my every action. As my patron, I sought your approval, but I’ll marry Miss Catherine with or without it. I’ll seek another living, if necessary.”
“Do nothing foolish, Mr.Winkler,” he had warned.
“Unfortunately, Mr. Darcy, love makes a man very foolish.”
Love truly had made him foolish; otherwise, why would the Master of Pemberley be lurking outside the door of one of his own drawing rooms waiting to be invited inside? Darcy glanced warily at the closed door. His wife and aunt had been ensconced behind the damn thing for over an hour. He’d wait another quarter hour; then he’d insist that his wife join him. After all, they had responsibilities to the rest of their guests and to his household.
Of course, he’d not stormed the room, as he’d wanted to do. Nor had he demanded that his wife and aunt inform him of what had transpired. Instead, he’d reluctantly joined the other guests in the main drawing room. Everyone had had a late breakfast following the morning services. That is, everyone except those involved in the negotiations regarding Anne’s ruination.
“It was a poignant service, Mr. Darcy. Not typical for a Christmas message, but very apropos,” Bingley said as Darcy joined his friends and Mr. Manneville.
