Page 231 of The Long Road Back to Yesterday

She tightened her hand upon his arm. “Everything is so fine, Fitzwilliam. I was comfortable at Pemberley, but tonight I feel very much the country girl who grew up at Longbourn.”

He moved in front of her and took both her hands.

“Do not look at the house, Elizabeth. Look at me.”

She raised her eyes to his.

His thumbs moved gently over her fingers.

“You are here with me. You are what was wanting. This grand house is a home now.”

Elizabeth rose onto her toes and kissed him.

Fitzwilliam drew her closer and returned her kiss before settling his hand at the small of her back and leading her to the chair at his right.

She sat down to dinner with her husband..

Chapter 58: Husband and Wife

Elizabeth woke slowly to the warmth of Fitzwilliam’s body pressed against her back, his arms wrapped around her waist.

He lay so close behind her that she could feel the slow rhythm of his breathing and the warmth of his breath against the nape of her neck.

Elizabeth closed her eyes again, relishing the simple pleasure of lying within his arms, surrounded by his warmth and the familiar masculine scent of him.

She had missed waking within his arms. She had missed reaching for him before she was fully awake and knowing that he would be there. For months, she had remembered the ordinary intimacy of their marriage while being unable to share it with him.

Elizabeth carefully shifted beneath his arm until she could face him.

Fitzwilliam was still asleep. His hair had fallen across his forehead, and Elizabeth reached up and gently moved one dark curl aside.

His eyes opened.

For a moment, he simply looked at her. Then his arm tightened around her waist.

“Good morning, Mrs. Darcy.”

Elizabeth smiled and touched his cheek.

“Good morning, Mr. Darcy.”

His hand moved slowly along her back as he drew her nearer.

“I have longed to wake and find you in my arms.”

Fitzwilliam's hand came up to cradle the back of her head as he bent near to kiss her lips.

Elizabeth slipped her arm around him and settled against his chest. Fitzwilliam drew the bedclothes higher around her shoulder and held her.

She lay listening to his heart beneath her ear until she raised her head and looked at him.

“I am very happy, Mr. Darcy.”

Fitzwilliam touched her face. “So am I, darling.”

Elizabeth reached up and kissed him.

Fitzwilliam rolled her gently beneath him and returned her kiss. Today, the world outside could wait.