November Twenty-Seventh Read online

  November Twenty-Seventh:

  A Pride and Prejudice Variation

  By Kate Speck

  List of Kate Speck books available on Kindle eBook:

  Resolution and Determination (Rated M)

  Lessons in Gratitude (Rated T)

  Services of a Friend (Rated K)

  The Proud and The Beast (Rated T)

  Clues to a Mystery: A Pride and Prejudice Sequel; short-story (Rated T)

  First Impressions of a Second Nature (Rated T)

  Growing Pains (Rated T)

  Growing Pains Too: A Pride and Prejudice & Persuasion Crossover (Rated T)

  Teachings of His Father (Rated K)

  November Twenty-Seventh (Rated M)

  “We have not met since the 26th of November, when we were all dancing together at Netherfield.”

  – Charles Bingley, Pride and Prejudice, Chapter 44 excerpt

  Chapter 1

  “Ellie, you must stop moving like that!” Darcy demanded, “I am serious; you... stop... my god, I am going to...” He grunted as he panted, as he collapsed over the nude woman who was giggling under him. “Damn it...” He muttered. “I wanted you to be pleasured first. That was too fast.”

  “Oh, but I did enjoy it, Mr. Darcy. It brings me pleasure to see you so pleasured.” She retorted, as she kissed his jaw and rubbed her soft hands on his back. “I am sure you will be up for the job again soon enough, sir.”

  Darcy lowered his head and kissed her lips tenderly. He caressed her face, “I love you so much. I love loving you. I only wish we can stay like this forever.” He kissed her ardently with his tongue diving into her mouth, “Will you never call me by name, Ellie? We have been intimate for nearly four months now and you still address me like I am your employer.”

  Ellie laughed, “You are my employer, Mr. Darcy. I am your mistress and my job is to pleasure you. I hope you have been satisfied with my services, sir.” She gripped his bare buttocks and pressed his hips against herself as she licked his neck and nibbled on his ear.

  Darcy moaned, “You know exactly what you do to me and I cannot get enough of you. Call me by name, Ellie.” He kissed her neck in return while he caressed her breasts. “I demand it as your employer. Call me William.”

  Ellie breathed, “William...” as she gripped his hair with her fingers and moaned loudly as he entered her again and began to make love wildly.

  “Yes, Ellie. Your body is mine and I am never letting you go.” Darcy moved faster as she huffed louder to reach her climax. “You are mine, Ellie. Marry me. Be mine forever. I love you. Marry me.” He continued to thrust until she screamed her ecstasy and he pulled out just in time for another release.

  Darcy rolled off and they both lay panting looking at the ceiling.

  Ellie turned to face him and stroked his sweaty chest. “You know I cannot marry you. I am your mistress and that is all that I can ever be. I do care for you. You have been so kind to me and I will stay with you for as long as you want me, but someday, you will tire of me and find a pretty, rich woman to replace me. I could live comfortably for the rest of my life with what you have already gifted me but I cannot marry you, Mr. Darcy. It is not in our arrangement.”

  Darcy abruptly lifted himself up from the bed and sat facing away from her. He buried his head in his hands and rubbed his face. He took a deep breath and sighed. “You know I will take you any way I can have you, Ellie. If you will not marry me, I will need to find a way to leave Pemberley to Georgiana’s son. The estate is not entailed but it will be a Darcy and her husband will have to take our name. I will never marry anyone else and I want you by my side until my last breath. I know I have been an arrogant bastard and I am still attempting to correct my errors from the past, Ellie, but I hope you will change your mind someday. The past months of being with you has been the best time of my life and I only wish to be your husband.” He stood and poured himself a drink. “I will be your employer and lover but you know I want more. I will not cease asking you to marry me.” He gulped down his drink.

  “When enough time passes, when the passion fades and you find many defects on my part, you will tire of me and will be content that you can release me from the contract. You will find a good wif...” Ellie could not continue as he rushed back to the bed and cradled her cheeks, placing both thumbs on her lips.

  “Do not say it and do not dare think it, Ellie. Do you think me a heartless creature? You think I am so ruled by my ardour that once I tire of this... this intimacy, that I will be done with you?” Darcy laid his forehead against hers and continued, “All I think about is you. I wake up in the morning after dreaming of you and seeing your face in front of me brings me immeasurable joy. I make love to you and leave your presence, only so I can take care of my businesses, and I eagerly bring myself back to you so I can be in your company again. I have spent the past three months, almost four, with you every night, whether you are available to me or not, and all I wish for in life is to hold you and love you.” He kissed her tenderly and soon released her. He stood to dress and continued to speak.

  “As my mistress, you are at my beck and call and I will now require that you to call me by name.” He declared with a broad smile. “Do not speak of my attaining another mistress or a wife again, Ellie. I must leave you for the entire day, as I have several appointments and must attend a dinner party, but I wish you could attend with me. Our relationship is a secret and you do not want anyone else to know so I will respect your wishes, Ellie. I want nothing more than to show you off in public, dripping in Darcy jewels, but you will continue to hide away and be seen so little.” Darcy finished his dressing. “I am going to take you shopping tomorrow to prepare for our travel to Scotland next month. You will need warmer clothes and it might still be cold enough to need some furs. Whether you attend your sister’s wedding or not, as soon as the ceremony is over, I intend to take you to my estate there and you and I will have complete privacy for at least two full months.” He sat down on the bed next to her and rubbed her bare arm. “You do realise your contract is for life, do you not? I had my solicitor intentionally place the end date in one hundred years and you did sign it. It is exclusive and you are mine, Ellie,” he kissed her lips, “and I am yours. I must go. Have a good time at dinner with your relatives. I will be late but I will return.”

  “Yes, master. I will do as you say.” Ellie replied and laughed, seeing Darcy’s raised eyebrow. “I will see you tonight, William.”

  Darcy kissed her affectionately once more and departed, while Ellie sat with a smile of contentment of being so loved by this handsome man.

  ~*~

  “So, you have finally returned from wherever you have been. Three months, cousin, have I rarely seen you and you are always out. Either you are working as a night watchman to stay out all night long or you have been keeping a woman for the past several months. I have never seen you like this, Darcy.” Colonel Richard Fitzwilliam stated. “You have never stayed in town for this long and Georgiana wants to ensure you are well. You were in a hurry to have her carted off to Matlock with my parents after Christmas instead of returning to Pemberley with her as your wont, and I could not determine what you were up to so I arrived late last night and actually slept in your bedroom. Your valet was not forthcoming but I believe you have not used your own bed for weeks. Are you in love? Do you have a mistress? What the hell is going on?”

  Colonel Fitzwilliam followed him to the dressing room where his cousin was calling for hot water. “You are actually smiling. Damn it; she must be quite a woman to make you lose all control. I never thought I would see the day when Fitzwilliam Darcy would keep a woman. You are the most honourable and reputable man I know and I am actually happy that you have fallen from your hi
gh horse.” He chuckled louder, “I thought you were going to retreat to Pemberley and not show your face for several months after your sudden return from Hertfordshire but here you are, sleeping with your mistress, happier than I have ever seen you, and the change in your demeanour is significant.”

  Darcy laughed, “I hope no one else has noticed it, Richard. I sent Georgiana away because I knew I could not leave my lady’s side. I have never been so delighted and I care not if it is known that I have a mistress. It is only due to her wishes have I not established her here in Darcy House, Richard, and I want to take her to Pemberley and place her in the mistress’ rooms. I want to marry her but she will not have me but I will have her with me however way I can.”

  “What? Why on earth would she not marry you? You know you cannot set her up in the mistress’ rooms, Darcy. I know you care little for social customs but you will face too many criticisms from those harpies and you cannot damage the family name. Georgiana still needs to marry and you will need to wait until she is settled before you make any irrational decisions.” Colonel Fitzwilliam argued. “Why can you not keep her and marry some insipid woman? Perhaps Cousin Anne; you can marry her, have Rosings and her £30,000, and keep your mistress. You can have it all and make Lady Catherine exceedingly happy as well.”

  Darcy shook his head as he took off his lawnshirt. “No, I only want Ellie. I will not marry another and if she ever changes her mind, I will marry her the same day. I will love only my Ellie and I will keep asking her for her hand.”

  “You have already asked her to marry you? How many times?” The colonel asked in surprise at his fervency.

  Darcy washed his face and wiped his body with a towel. “Every day for the past three months. Over a hundred times. I am planning on taking her to my estate in Scotland next month. I want to spend two or three months there and take her to Pemberley, but if I can finally convince her, we can marry in Scotland and she will be mistress of Pemberley. I cannot live without her and I believe it was providence that she showed up in my study after I left Hertfordshire. I never thought I would consider keeping a woman but when she asked for my help to be a companion or a governess, I blurted out my proposition and I could not believe she accepted it. I love her and she knows I love her, Richard. I believe she loves me but she does not know it yet, or she is holding on to something but is learning to care for me more. I do not know why she cannot marry me but I know she was a maiden, Richard. I never knew it could be so... special. I know I am a cad for taking her without marriage vows but I will never give her up.”

  “Darcy,” Colonel Fitzwilliam asked thoughtfully, “This woman, this Ellie, is she a gentlewoman? She is not the same...” He saw Darcy nod. “Good lord! She is? How in the world?! Your mistress is that woman you fancied?”

  “Yes, Elizabeth Bennet. My Ellie is Elizabeth and she captured my attention from the beginning, even after I called her ‘tolerable’ and ‘not handsome enough’. She is witty and beautiful and I know her family is awful but she is perfect for me. I asked her to marry me when she came to me for help but she refused me after laughing at me that I did nothing but look at her for faults and that she was aware of the disparity of our rank. She saw how much I despised her family and her neighbours in Hertfordshire and she knew I was responsible for separating Bingley from her dearest sister. I have made amends but I know I have more to make. She found me contemptible but could not refuse my offer and agreed to be my mistress.” He finished dressing and they went downstairs to the breakfast room.

  Darcy continued as they sat to eat. “After I allowed Caroline Bingley to persuade me to talk Bingley into leaving Netherfield, that weasel Mr. Collins proposed to Ellie more than once and she refused him several times. That fool would not take ‘no’ for an answer and threatened Mr. Bennet that he would have the family immediately expelled from Longbourn after the current master’s demise, and Mrs. Bennet screeched all she could and even fainted. After seeing his wife’s distress, Mr. Bennet demanded Ellie to accept the proposal but she left her home furious and she has not spoken to them since. She packed a small bag and arrived in Cheapside that same day to stay with her uncle and aunt, the Gardiners, in order to meet with me that evening to inform me of Jane Bennet’s heartbreak and to convince me to send Bingley back to Netherfield.”

  “That was quite brave of her. Lady Catherine’s parson sounds ridiculous and I cannot imagine any woman of intelligence agreeing to marry him. One would have to be desperate, although your Ellie sounds quite stubborn to defy her father’s demands.” Colonel Fitzwilliam commented.

  “Exactly,” Darcy concurred. “I love her for her impertinence. Collins would have been a miserable husband to her and he proposed to Ellie’s friend three days later and they married in December. No, she deserves better. Once she berated me thoroughly about breaking her sister’s heart, Ellie asked me to reconcile my error and to help her find a place of employment.” Darcy smiled, “She was surprised when I asked her to marry me but she scoffed that she had wished to marry for the deepest of love and that all hope was lost to her. She wanted security and comfort now and she agreed to a one hundred-year contract as my mistress.”

  “A hundred years?!” Colonel Fitzwilliam exclaimed, “And she agreed to this? Why the hell would you keep one woman for a hundred years?”

  “I want to marry her and a hundred years is still too short, you dolt!” Darcy scolded, “I gave her £5,000 up front, set her up in the small townhouse three blocks from here with servants and everything she needs, and she has a monthly stipend of another £50. Her contract is exclusive and she will never touch another man. I have gifted her a carriage and some jewels and I will give her everything within my power but I want to give her my name more than anything else. I want to have children with her and to present her in society as my wife. I cannot believe I ever thought myself so superior that I behaved like a complete arse in Meryton, Richard. She hated me because of my arrogance and I do not know if I will be able to gain her full regard because I was too proud and insulted her at the assembly, which she overheard. Her family may be crass and she may be penniless, but she is a treasure and I love her completely.”

  “It is incredulous that you are in love with her, Darcy. I have never seen you so altered. After three months, she is not... you have made a child with her yet?” Richard asked delicately. He was in shock that his respectable cousin was not only keeping a woman these past three months, but that he was irrevocably in love with a penniless daughter of a lowly gentleman.

  Darcy chuckled, “No, I could not do that to her right now. Although I would not mind children with Ellie, I will wait until she accepts my marriage proposal or until Georgiana is married off in a few years. I would hand off Pemberley to Georgiana’s husband and quietly move to the lodge in Scotland to raise my children with her. I do not wish to have illegitimate children that will pollute the shades of Pemberley, as Lady Catherine would put it.” They both laughed. “I am not releasing inside her but if she should bear my child, I will ensure that he will be set for the rest of his life. I would give up everything for her.”

  Colonel Fitzwilliam nodded, “I am glad you are taking precautions. Illegitimate children would not be optimal right now and although I am still in shock, Darcy, I understand your love for this woman and your commitment to stay with her. Perhaps you could arrange it so I can meet her? I will support you no matter what, cousin. I do wish for your happiness and if your love outside of marriage brings you this much contentment, I will stand by you. I have never thought it possible but I can see for myself that you truly love her.”

  “I will ask Ellie about including you to dinner on Saturday, Richard. Only her uncle, aunt, and her sister Jane know about the arrangement. After Bingley returned to Netherfield in December to court Jane Bennet and she accepted his proposal last month, they will marry in mid-April and I have heard that Mr. and Mrs. Bennet are repentant of their treatment of Ellie, but since we... now that I have taken her on, she is mine and she will stay wi
th me. Her uncle and aunt are not happy about the circumstance but they understand their wilful niece and they have finally agreed to dine with me here on Saturday.” He finished chewing and wiped his mouth. “I have an appointment with my solicitor. I have spent so much time away from my businesses that I will need to see to them during the time I am away from my lady. I plan on updating my will and placing several clauses for Ellie and Georgiana. Thank you for listening, cousin. I am relieved to share my secret to another and gladdened to gain your support. I do not wish for you to lie on my behalf, as any deception is an abhorrence, but I might ask you to make my excuses to explain why I will not be in town this spring. Your mother wishes to matchmake me this season again but I will be in Scotland to stay in bed all day and all night with the woman I love.” He flashed his smile as he rose.

  “Hahaha! You are a mooncalf and I have never seen you jovial like this.” Richard Fitzwilliam laughed loudly. “I cannot wait to meet her. Hurry up and go, you lucky bastard. I hope to be in love like you someday.” He continued laughing as his cousin left to see to his appointment. Colonel Fitzwilliam smiled and finished his breakfast before departing for his duties with the military office.

  Chapter 2

  “Are you well, Lizzy?” Mrs. Gardiner asked gently. “Has Mr. Darcy been treating you well?”

  Elizabeth shyly smiled, “Everything has been wonderful, aunt. He is kind and thoughtful and I lack for nothing.”

  “And you are not... not having any... symptoms of a possible...” Mrs. Gardiner staggered. “You are still not with child,” she whispered, “are you?”

  “No,” Elizabeth laughed, “I completed my courses yesterday and Mr. Darcy was most enthral...” She closed her mouth. “No, aunt, we are preventing it.” She blushed, recalling how enthusiastic her lover had been last night and this morning after nearly a week of abstinence.