I value my betas more and more as this story progresses. Thank you so much to Gayle (scmema), Steph (SdHamm), Julianne (BenjisMom), Wendi, Tiffany, and Maria (China). Chapter 4 “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8 September, 2008 Darcy was at first amused by the flurry of activity in the Bennet household; however, his amusement was soon turned to distress by the dwindling amount of time left in Elizabeth’s days for him. Each time he was there – which was nearly every day – Elizabeth, her mother, and usually Janna were tending to more wedding details. Whenever he was allowed to do so, he helped with the plans. He and Elizabeth had put an engagement announcement in the local papers, using a favorite photograph taken for publicity purposes before the SoulFire rallies, and the two of them had made arrangements for the rehearsal dinner to be catered at the local country club, but Darcy soon realized that there was a myriad of things to be done with which he could not assist Elizabeth. After selecting her wedding dress, Elizabeth had pleased her mother by following a Southern tradition and having her wedding portrait made, to be unveiled at their reception. Lynne had engaged the same photographer to take pictures at the wedding while his assistant shot video. In addition, Lynne had reserved the church and the fellowship hall, selected a florist, and, along with her daughters, chosen the flowers. A lady from the church who had directed Janna’s wedding had agreed to direct Elizabeth and Darcy’s as well. Elizabeth and her mother had met with the caterer and discussed the wedding cake, the menu, and the table settings. Elizabeth, Lynne, and the bridesmaids had spent a pleasant Saturday shopping for the bridesmaids’ dresses and having lunch together. Lynne’s niece, Bethany, had come from Virginia for the weekend, and she and her mother, Grace, had joined the Bennet ladies for the day. Darcy and Elizabeth had ordered their invitations and drawn up a list of wedding guests together. Because Darcy had no one to add to the list other than those people he and Elizabeth both knew, he had already told the Bennets that his brothers would be his groomsmen, but his Father would not be able to attend as He was quite old and rarely left His home. Speaking with David and Lynne, Darcy explained, “My Father wishes you to know that He will be with us in Spirit, though not in flesh. He regrets that He will not meet you at our happy occasion, but wants me to assure you that He will meet you in Person sometime in the future. He says that He knows you already through my eyes, and He is very happy that I am marrying your daughter. In fact, I have spoken to Him so often in such glowing terms about your family and Elizabeth that He has told me we were meant to be together. He knew that I loved her before I was aware of it myself.” David was puzzled by Darcy’s manner of speaking and asked, “How old is your Father, Fitzwilliam? Perhaps we should go see Him if He cannot travel here.” Roark put his hands on David’s shoulders and spoke into his mind, Do not be anxious, David. All is well with Fitzwilliam’s Father. Darcy smiled. “My Father would seem ancient to you, but He does not seem old to me. He is so full of life and power that He is ageless in my eyes. He does not receive guests, however.” Lynne looked confused by Darcy’s statement, and Niall whispered to her, Lynne, Fitzwilliam is trustworthy. Be at peace. Privately, David and Lynne thought that Darcy’s Father must be rather eccentric and likely very wealthy, but they talked of it only between themselves. Niall and Roark smiled knowingly at each other whenever their charges discussed their Master. The only part of the engagement period that Darcy was not enjoying was the time he had to spend apart from Elizabeth while she did things in which he was not allowed to participate – such as choosing her dress, shopping with the bridesmaids, and having her wedding portrait made. He was not supposed to see her dress before she walked down the aisle as his bride, and she was adhering rigidly to the rules on that point. He could somewhat understand her desire to see his face when he saw her in the dress for the first time, coming down the aisle toward him, but he did not comprehend why he was left out of all of the other outings. Darcy had barely arrived at her house on Saturday morning when he found to his chagrin that she was going shopping with her mother yet again. I find it difficult to believe that there is anything left to buy in Spartanburg, Darcy groused to his brothers. Elizabeth does not really enjoy shopping, Darcy. You know that, Gabriel said quietly. “Elizabeth, why can I not go with you this time? I miss you. I hardly see you anymore. Our lack of time together has become so stressful to me that I am actually grateful when we have classes. At least I am with you there. Will you let me come?” asked Darcy, kissing her goodbye at her door. Elizabeth had told Darcy that he would spend the day with her father until she returned. Elizabeth chuckled, “This will be a good time for some ‘male bonding’ between you and Dad.” He pouted. “I much prefer to spend the time bonding with you instead.” She shook her head with a smile, and Darcy held her as he asked, “Why not, love?” Elizabeth blushed and answered, “Because we are going to buy something for me to wear as a surprise for you.” He frowned a little. “I think there will be enough surprises already. If it is for me, why can I not have a say in it? I am getting to know the words of ‘Amazing Grace’ extremely well, for you use it continually to block your thoughts from me.” She hesitated, and then smiled shyly. “We’re going to Victoria’s Secret. Now do you understand?” “No,” he answered. “Who is Victoria? And why would you prefer to spend time with her rather than with me? I am more confused than I was before.” Niall, standing behind Lynne, snorted. Darcy, it is a lingerie store. Elizabeth and her mother are going to select what she will wear on your wedding night. Oh... Oh! Darcy’s eyes lit with understanding. Elizabeth saw awareness dawn in his eyes. “I know neither Gabriel nor Michael enlightened you, so who is your informant?” she asked in a low voice, looking toward her mother to see if she was listening. “My best man,” Darcy whispered in her ear. Their whispering had caught Lynne’s attention, and she grabbed her purse as she headed toward them, Niall following behind her. “Let’s go, El.” Smiling at Darcy, Lynne said, “You guys have fun. Lunch is in the ‘fridge for you. We’ll be back in a couple of hours.” Lynne walked between Elizabeth and Darcy as she headed out the door. Michael and I are really looking forward to this. Are we not, Michael? teased Niall. Michael glared at him. I truly dislike shopping. Especially for clothing. And looking at lingerie has to be the worst type of shopping possible. That reminds me, thought Darcy. My groomsmen, future father-in-law, ushers, and I have an appointment early next month for fittings for our tuxes. Elizabeth wants them to match, so she is coming along to help us pick them out. My tux will not do after all, so I will have to be fitted as well. The three of you can ‘meet’ us at the store. Michael, Niall will need a warrior to guard Lynne while we are gone unless she decides to come with Elizabeth. More clothing! muttered Michael while Gabriel smiled beatifically. At least you are not having to eat – yet, thought Darcy. Michael’s face assumed a glum expression at the idea. Elizabeth stood on her tiptoes to kiss Darcy goodbye. “We won’t be gone any longer than necessary. You’ll thank me later. I promise.” He surprised her by kissing her soundly in front of her mother. At Lynne’s amused look, he grinned. “Just practicing, Mom. Only two months until the big day, and I want to be sure to get this part right.” She raised an eyebrow. “Somehow, Fitzwilliam, I have no worries on that score. The rest of the day may collapse around our ears, but you will get that right, I have no doubt.” Lynne grabbed her daughter’s hand and pulled her to the car, chuckling. Their angelic escort was right behind them. ~~oo~~ It was a cool, late September Monday, and Darcy left his townhouse in Spartanburg early, anticipating having breakfast with Elizabeth before they went to classes. Gabriel flew over his Escalade as they wove through the morning traffic. Lynne had taken the day off work to see to some wedding details, and Elizabeth was waiting for Darcy in the parking lot at Converse when he arrived. She was driving her own car – a white Toyota Rav4 they had picked out together the previous weekend. Michael stood beside the car, waiting for her to get out. Instead, she lowered her window and smiled at Darcy in excitement. He got out of his car, followed by Gabriel, and walked to her car, leaning over to kiss her through the open window. “Hi, handsome,” she said as he broke the kiss. “Charlotte rode with me, but she’s already gone to an early class. Let me take you to breakfast this morning. You always drive.” “Yes, I do, because I like to get to my destination in one piece. You drive entirely too fast, you know,” Darcy replied with a stern look. “Ah, but I have my own personal guardian angel – two in fact – to make sure that I’m safe. If I promise to slow down to your granny speed, will you agree to ride with me?” she asked, tilting her head to look up at him. He thought a moment. “There will be a price to be paid.” She laughed. “I’m betting that I can pay it fairly easily. What’s your price? Name it.” “Two kisses, and an ‘I love you,’” he answered looking very serious. “Well, come around and get in the passenger seat, and I’ll work on that,” she teased. She watched him in the rearview mirror as he walked around the car. I am a lucky woman, and I don’t care if you hear me. She saw him smile as he heard her thoughts, and her stomach did a little flip. He opened the door and settled himself in the seat. “Pay up, and I will not accept short, perfunctory kisses. I want real kisses if I am to risk my life.” “Happy to oblige,” she said, turning toward him and leaning to take his face between her hands. Elizabeth kissed him eagerly, and pulled back a few inches. “That’s one.” “Say it,” he whispered. “Say what?” she asked innocently. “You know what I want to hear, and you promised. Say it,” he insisted in a low voice. “I love you, Fitzwilliam.” Elizabeth moved toward him for the second kiss, but Darcy held her back for a moment. “I love you more. I win,” he said just before he took her into his arms. That was tricky. You know I let you win, she thought as she kissed him. I know you did, but I still love you more, he answered, enjoying his prize. ~~oo~~ The morning news was on the television in the restaurant, droning in the background as Darcy and Elizabeth slid into their booth, Michael and Gabriel following them to stand beside their charges. They had been at the diner fairly regularly for the last two months, and it was only a moment before a waitress appeared to fill their coffee cups and take their orders. They wished her a smiling “good morning” and ordered their usual meals. “I have a surprise for you this afternoon,” Darcy said once they were again alone at the table, his blue eyes twinkling. “Oh, I love surprises. What is it?” Elizabeth asked, leaning toward him, her face wreathed in delight. “If I told you it would not be a surprise. At least that is what you have been telling me over and over for the past two months. I need your cooperation, however, so I will have to tell you I suppose,” said Darcy with an exaggerated sigh. Elizabeth raised her eyebrows. “So…tell me.” After a pause for effect, Darcy showed his excitement in his reply, “I have several houses for us to look at this afternoon. I have taken into consideration all the things we have been talking about, and I contacted a real estate agent to line up showings for us. I hope that we can find something we both like fairly quickly. I want us to have a real house when we are married – not my small townhouse.” “I’m assuming you scheduled the appointments for after classes today?” she asked. “Yes. Is that all right?” He suddenly realized that he should have asked her about her plans before he made the appointments. He was relieved when she smiled and replied, “Luckily for you, I have the afternoon free. I’ll text Mom and let her know what we’re doing. She’ll be ecstatic.” “I hope so. Charlotte can drive your car home, and I will take you back to Bethel after we look at the houses, if that is all right with you,” Darcy said. “Charlotte is on the short ‘approved’ list to drive my car, so I suppose that will work,” she replied. Looking over Elizabeth’s shoulder, Darcy’s attention was drawn to the face on the screen. Gregory Wickham was with a lovely woman, holding her arm possessively. Darcy was amazed to hear the lady being presented as the wife of his nemesis. “Have you heard that Gregory is married?” he asked Elizabeth, nodding at the screen. She turned quickly to look at the couple, dressed to the nines for a charity function and pausing to talk to reporters before they walked into Lincoln Center. “Married? You’re kidding! When did that happen?” she asked, stunned. “According to the report, they married quietly last week after a long courtship,” Darcy answered. They fell silent, riveted to the television, watching a much more mature Gregory than they had known as he smiled at his blonde, blue-eyed wife while they charmed the nation together. ~~oo~~ Each day seemed to bring a new revelation concerning Gregory Wickham, and Elizabeth, Darcy, Jonathan, and Charlotte were frankly astounded at the false life he had built in a few months. In fact, Darcy suspected that his plans had been laid for years, and Lucifer had waited only for the right time to implement them. Lucifer’s human servants must have had everything in place, ready for his commands. It seemed that Gregory had been the darling of the media from the moment he had burst onto the scene, garnering national attention in every major news outlet – both in print and on the small screen. He had gone from political obscurity to having the star status of a savior virtually overnight, and it was a foregone conclusion that he would be the next senator from Massachusetts. Gregory Wickham was well-educated, brilliant, talented, knowledgeable, extremely wealthy, and extraordinarily handsome with a beautiful, intelligent wife who added the full support of her well-connected family. He had absolutely no baggage, for reporters could not find a single woman who had ever dated him, except for his wife. He had no friends from college and no record of saying or doing anything controversial, and his oratorical skills were unmatched. His ability to mesmerize an audience was remarkable; he was universally hailed as the only answer to the country’s problems and possibly the best hope for the future of the world. The Wickhams traveled in the highest circles of society, though they were very active in work for the homeless and other charitable endeavors. Mrs. Wickham, formerly Anne De Bourgh, handled their obligations to the less fortunate by hosting fundraisers and serving as the head of The De Bourgh Foundation, a non-profit organization which awarded grants to charities and individuals who sought to improve the living standards and promote the health of the poverty stricken peoples of the world. Gregory’s political platform was deliberately vague – a blend of promises of peace, equality for all people, and economic security for the masses. He received the unqualified support of the wealthiest as well as the poorest in society, for both stood to benefit greatly from his election. The financial burden of implementing Gregory’s proposed “New Order” would fall on the middle class, though he never presented a plan showing that particular aspect of his program. His smiling, beautiful face was on the cover of nearly every magazine, and people believed all the lies he uttered. He was a great favorite on the west coast and was heavily funded by the elite of the entertainment industry. Friendships with the rich and famous came easily to him, and pictures of the Wickhams with celebrities were commonplace in various media outlets as they attended charity fundraisers, premiers, galas, and sporting events. The people of the United States were very impressed with Gregory Wickham. ~~oo~~ Darcy and Elizabeth picked up take-out to eat at his townhouse after viewing several suitable homes in the Spartanburg area. They had prayed about it together and decided to hold off on a decision until they looked at a few available houses in Bethel. Because they expected to be traveling most of the time, both of them felt that it would be pleasant to live closer to Elizabeth’s parents so that they could spend time with them more easily on the rare occasions when they were home. The realtor had promised to set up showings for them within the next few days. They sat together on Darcy’s new couch and placed their food on the matching coffee table. In the previous week, he and Elizabeth had done a little shopping of their own, and he was very pleased with their purchases. The idea of making a home with Elizabeth was already quite appealing to him, and it seemed to get better the more she was involved in his life. After they had finished eating, they gathered up the containers, took them to the kitchen, and disposed of them in the trashcan under the sink. Michael and Gabriel stood against the wall between the two rooms which were separated by a bar. Elizabeth’s face took on a dreamy quality when she turned to face Darcy in the small kitchen, and he smiled when he heard the words of “Amazing Grace” being sung in her mind. He smiled, pulling her into his arms, and asked, “What are you blocking from me, love? You know that you can tell me anything.” “I’ve been thinking of something for a while, and it’s a little embarrassing,” she said, putting her cheek against his chest and looking down so that he could not see her face. “I hope that you can share it with me. I particularly like that expression on your face, and I would love to know the thoughts that put it there,” said Darcy, holding her close. Her voice was so low that he barely caught the words. “I want to be kissed by an angel.” Darcy pulled back a few inches and used one of his hands to tilt her face up to his. “You have been kissed by an angel many times. What do you mean?” “I mean, I want you to be an angel when you kiss me. I want to know what it’s like to kiss the angel that saved my life by flying me out of the gorge. I was angry with you, but I still recognized that you were beautiful in an otherworldly way,” she said as she blushed furiously. Darcy was surprised at her admission. “You really want to see me in my other form? You were not frightened?” She laughed a little nervously as she said, “I have dreamed of it. I know Michael must think I’m weird when he watches those dreams in my mind. Will you let me see you? Is it allowed?” “Really?” Darcy was ridiculously pleased. “I have wanted you to know all of me and accept me as I am for as long as I have loved you. I will happily morph for you. And Elizabeth – remember that I have never kissed anyone in that form. I wonder what it will be like as much as you do.” He released her and stepped back a few feet before assuming solid angelic form, never taking his eyes from hers. The transformation was accomplished in less than a second. Darcy had never willingly let a human being see him in the form in which he had lived in for ten millennia, and he had no idea what Elizabeth’s reaction would be. He smiled as she looked at him, hoping to ease the shock she likely would experience upon seeing him as an angel, but he could not know that the radiance of his face would further stun her. The light he exuded chased the darkness from every corner of the room and reflected back to him from her glittering eyes. Darcy heard her mind go completely blank as her eyes widened and her mouth formed an “O.” Elizabeth moved further back so that she could see all of him in his glorious form. He glowed softly, his arms bulging from his sleeveless tunic. His golden armor gleamed under the kitchen light as he watched her eyes move from his feet slowly up to his face, taking in his muscular legs and molded breastplate. Because he was not in battle, his helmet had not appeared, and his shining hair fell in loose curls around his neck. His shield and sword hung at his waist, and his translucent, shimmery wings were pulled close to his back. He suddenly realized that Elizabeth had never seen him so unclothed; he had neither completely removed his shirt around her nor worn shorts above his knees, and now he stood before her in a short, guardian tunic. Darcy could tell that she was breathing faster even as he heard her heart rate quicken. The flush across her skin was lovely, but he was unable to read her jumbled thoughts. After a few long moments, Darcy began to worry. Why is she not speaking? Have I frightened her? Gabriel reassured him. Give her some time, Darcy. To her knowledge, she has met Xander only once, and the circumstances were not pleasant. Let her adjust in her own way. I have seen her dreaming of you in this form over and over again, brother, thought Michael. Trust me on this. She is not frightened of you, although perhaps she is overwhelmed at this time by her own feelings. Not many humans are able to live out their fantasies, but she is living one of hers now. She likes your angelic form – very much. Michael chuckled. Expect her to ask you to change into this form often. I certainly hope you are right, thought Darcy as he watched her, waiting for her to move. She has yet to even blink her eyes! “Elizabeth?” Darcy extended his hand to her. She was still unable to speak, though he stepped closer to take her hand and held it in his, lightly stroking it with his fingers. When Darcy touched her, he was surprised to find that her hands were moist. As he stroked her hand, her breathing became even faster and shallower, and she glanced around the small room as if she did not know where to look. “Are you afraid of me?” Darcy asked, concerned. Elizabeth cleared her throat, glanced into his eyes, and quickly looked away. “No, not at all. I just don’t know what to do. You are so beautiful, Fitzwilliam, that I don’t know how I should act.” She turned her eyes back to his. “Can I touch you? You are holy, and I am not. When I look at you, I am confronted by my own sin. Can you ever forgive me?” Her voice broke on the last word, and she caught her breath, looking at the floor. He was thoroughly confused by her question. “Forgive you for what, Elizabeth?” he asked, stepping closer to cup her face with his hand. She caught her breath, lowering her eyes to avoid looking into his face. “When I fell and you caught me, I was so angry with you. I never really thanked you for saving my life. I am so full of sin that I actually turned from God – and from you – to go with Gregory, and you rescued me again, knowing that I would still reject you. I remember how you begged me to let you drive me home, promising that you would not talk to me – ‘bother’ me, as you said. How can you stand me? I acted like a spoiled child. How can God forgive me for doubting Him?” Elizabeth tried to turn her face away, but he held her chin firmly, forcing her to face him. She slowly raised her eyes to his, and his heart broke to see them filled with unshed tears. Darcy’s voice was soft and low as he said, “Oh, my love. I was glad that I was there to help you, even if it parted us. I wanted to tell you the truth about me, but the timing was never right. I knew that you had every right to be angry with me because I was there when Richard hid the truth from you, and I knew how you would feel. Please believe me when I say that losing you for a short time only made me value you more when you accepted my love again. Elizabeth, I am not perfect, and neither are you, but we are both forgiven by God through Christ. We love because He first loved us. We forgive because He forgave us. You know that He has forgiven you for your short crisis of faith. Our Father understands our frailties.” He bent his head to kiss her tears away, and after he had feathered her eyelids with his lips, she lifted her face to his. The glory of his countenance was reflected in her eyes. Darcy kissed her gently, pouring his soul into his touch, and she put her arms around his waist, feeling his wings for the first time. Though she was greatly enjoying his kisses, she was momentarily distracted. What is that? she asked, moving her hands gently up and down his back, barely touching him. Those are my wings. Do you want to see them? Do we have to stop kissing? Elizabeth queried. Yes. His answer was short. I can wait until later, then. She reached further around him to explore his wings with her hands, and his mind emptied of coherent thought. Your wings are muscular, strong, and much thinner than I imagined – yet there is a softness and warmth, like a baby’s skin, Elizabeth thought. He pulled away, turning his face so that she could not see his expression. “Did I do something wrong?” Elizabeth was slightly alarmed. His voice was ragged. “No, it is just that…no one has ever touched me there before. I was not expecting it. I did not know how it would feel.” “Fitzwilliam, did I hurt you?” she asked, more urgently. “No. Quite the opposite.” He lowered his lashes against his reddened cheeks in embarrassment. Michael snorted. Gabriel glared at Michael. “Oh,” she said slowly, with understanding. “Then I won’t do that again – at least until after we are married.” “That would probably be for the best. I did not expect them to be so – sensitive. All of my ideas about physical intimacy are based on my observations of human males, and none of them have wings.” Darcy was silent while he struggled for control. After a moment he looked at her and asked, “Would you still like to see them?” “Do you mind?” she asked. Darcy could feel the curiosity flowing from her in waves. “Not at all.” He turned to stride into the living room, relieved to leave the small space. “Where are you going?” Elizabeth asked as she followed him. “There is insufficient room in the kitchen,” he answered. Darcy stood in the center of the living room and faced her, unfurling his silvery wings and holding them out so that she could see them. His wingspan was at least ten feet across; he was awe-inspiring. He watched her as she walked around him, ducking carefully under his spread wings. Darcy knew from her thoughts that she wanted to touch him, but she held herself back, concentrating on how his wings looked rather than how they felt. When she was in front of him again, she seemed puzzled. “There are no feathers.” Darcy’s laughter came out like a bark. “Feathers?” “Birds have feathers,” she said reasonably. “Bats, flying fish, and penguins do not. All wings are not feathered. Our wings are layered with feather-shaped membrane which is more responsive to touch than feathers are, I suppose. There are nerve endings and muscles throughout my wings so that I can adjust them as needed in order to fly in different ways,” He drew his wings back to mold against his body, and the movement of the air caused her hair to ruffle a bit. “Your wings are beautiful – not at all like the wings of bats or penguins, but they are not how I thought they would be. Their structure seems to resemble the more rounded wings of birds rather than the sharp, bony wings of bats, though they are featherless and more flexible than any wings I have ever seen. Did I offend you?” she asked. “No, I was unprepared for your question. That is all.” He smiled broadly. “Angel wings have feathers in all the pictures,” she pointed out. “You mean ‘paintings,’ not ‘pictures,’” he corrected. “So the artists are wrong. Interesting. Why are there no pictures?” she asked. Her thoughts betrayed how badly she wanted to explore his wings with her fingers, and he concluded that she kept questioning him to keep herself distracted. “My, you are inquisitive tonight. I suppose because angels cannot be photographed well in angelic form, and we have not often appeared to artists or anyone else.” His handsome face showed his amusement. “Yes, the glowing would not look right in a picture,” she mused. “I sense that there is something else you want to know,” he stated. “Well…” she said uncertainly. “You have officially kissed an angel and seen my wings. How else can I satisfy your curiosity, my love?” he asked as he stepped even closer to her. She put her hands on his chest and looked up at him shyly. “Fitzwilliam, I dream about you – quite often – and in those dreams, you are holding me against you, and we are – could you take me flying?” “I have flown with you twice, you know,” he replied with a grin. “I know you flew with me at the lodge. When else have we flown together?” Elizabeth drew her brows together, frowning slightly. “I flew you to the hospital after your four-wheeler accident. You were unconscious,” Darcy answered, watching her face. Her surprise was evident. “Really? I wish I had been awake. Why didn’t anyone see you?” “I kept to the treetops, and then changed into human form after I landed in the woods behind the hospital. I carried you into the emergency room myself,” he said. “To be solid enough to carry you, I have to stay at the edge of visibility. Invisible flight is faster, however.” “You have degrees of solidity?” she asked in fascination. “Yes. I can be so invisible that everything passes through me, just solid enough to stop cars and other things while remaining unseen, or completely solid like I am now. You would not be able to touch me in any form other than this one, though you could feel the peace and comfort of God being relayed to you if I touched you or spoke to you.” Darcy tried to keep his explanations simple. He had a lifetime to tell her things, and he did not want to overload her with too much information at once. “Hmmm…You were with me when evil was in my room, when I had the chicken pox and was in the hospital, when I left church and hid in the bushes at my house, and when I looked at the pictures of Richard and Caroline, weren’t you? I remember God’s comfort at those times,” she said, smiling. “Yes, I was there, holding you and whispering to you. I already had begun to love you, and it was agonizing to watch you suffer. I loved you long before you met me,” he said softly, taking her into his arms and kissing her again. After a few moments, he lifted his head and kissed her forehead. “I have to take you home now, but in ten weeks, you will stay with me.” His voice held such joy that she looked up at him and was amazed at his radiance. He seemed to glow even more brightly, and he vibrated slightly with his emotion. She held her breath. You literally take my breath away. You are glorious, my love, she thought. You do not know how you affect me, Elizabeth. You have been stunning me, innocently torturing me, since you were fourteen. “I take it that you shine more brilliantly when you are happy?” she asked, smiling. “Yes. I will have to take care on our wedding day to keep my angelic nature firmly under regulation. It would not do for me to blur all of the pictures,” he stated solemnly. “Could that really happen?” she asked, a little worried. He laughed. “No. I can easily control my forms. I do not change without wishing to do so, unless I have a head injury apparently.” She remembered how he had appeared to glimmer following his bicycle accident. “So my eyes weren’t playing tricks on me the day you had a concussion?” “You really did see me in this form. I had my brothers quite worried for a while,” he said as he smiled at Michael and Gabriel. They shifted uneasily, unused to being exposed. “So they are over there?” she asked, following his eyes. “Yes. They are always with us, but do not think of it unless you need them. They are not comfortable with your knowledge yet,” he explained. “That makes three of us,” she said in a wry tone. “You are not comfortable with your awareness of my nature?” he asked. “I am perfectly comfortable with you. It’s knowing that Michael and Gabriel are there watching us all the time that requires some attitude adjustment on my part. If I have to get used to knowing about them, I suppose that they will have to adjust to my knowledge of them as well.” She looked in the general direction of Michael and Gabriel and spoke again, “I’m sorry, guys. That’s just how it is.” Darcy smiled at his brothers. “I think she summarized it well, gentlemen.” Looking back at Elizabeth, he said, “And with that, I must take you home before your father changes his mind about me.” He changed back into human form and took her hand, pulling her toward the door. “But I have more questions, Fitzwilliam, and I want to fly,” she protested, tugging gently against his hand. He chuckled. “You will always have more questions, love, and I will answer them. And I will certainly take you flying soon. I have wanted to do that for a long time now. We do not have to do everything today. We have the rest of our lives.” She nodded her head in agreement, smiling as she allowed him to lead her from his home. After they had driven to her house, while they sat in his car with the moonlight playing on her curls, Darcy looked at her beloved face with his heart in his eyes and asked, “Well, what was it like to kiss an angel, my love?” Her eyes were dreamy again as she answered with a sigh, “Heavenly. Just heavenly.” ~~oo~~ If you are offended by the romance angle of the story, please let me know. I am writing Christian fantasy fiction, and would appreciate feedback, particularly if you think I am crossing a line. Scripture quotations taken from the New American Standard Bible®, Copyright© 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation Used by permission. (www.Lockman.org)http://www.dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?5,79927,79927#msg-79927Sat, 18 May 2013 16:14:58 +0100 Phorum 5.2.19 http://www.dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?5,79927,81127#msg-81127 http://www.dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?5,79927,81127#msg-81127
Renee']]> Renee Derbyshire Writers' GuildSun, 18 Mar 2012 03:12:12 +0000 http://www.dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?5,79927,80134#msg-80134 http://www.dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?5,79927,80134#msg-80134 Sydielim C Derbyshire Writers' GuildSat, 18 Feb 2012 20:57:18 +0000 http://www.dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?5,79927,80128#msg-80128 http://www.dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?5,79927,80128#msg-80128
I always knew that there would be people who would not like my story, but I never expected to be called a false teacher and a blasphemer. I never expected to have my personal salvation questioned. That came from someone else on this board - not you. You published your remarks publicly; the other reader e-mailed me.

I also see this story as a Christian alternative to books like Twilight, and I am not the only one who sees it that way. Both Guardian and SoulFire have been on the Amazon best sellers list (top 100) for Christian fantasy fiction for the past 7 weeks (since SoulFire was published). The books have been listed alongside books by C.S. Lewis, Tim LaHaye, Frank Peretti, and Ted Dekker. Since non-Christians would not go to Christian fiction for their reading material, I would assume that the people buying the books are mainly Christians.

However, there will always be those who will throw stones at people who are doing what they fear to do themselves. The reader who made the harsh attacks is a Christian who won't write overtly Christian stories. Why not? I have actually limited by audience by doing so. Had I left out the Christian aspect and written this as a secular story, my readership would be wider and I would be selling more books. Instead, I wanted to portray God's love and forgiveness, and I chose an angel as a plot device to do so. In the final analysis, I answer to God for what I write. Had I been doing what displeased Him, He would have let me know. He always has before.

I have stepped outside the "Christian box" with this story, and some traditional thinkers cannot stand it. That's fine. They don't have to read it. I feel very comfortable being listed with Lewis, LaHaye, Peretti, and Dekker. I am also reminded of how Christians were treated in the early church by people who professed to be religious. Paul was beaten, stoned, ostracized, and left for dead. Stephen was stoned to death. Peter was beheaded. All of the apostles, except for John, were killed, and The Book of Martyrs by John Foxe is replete with others who were persecuted and put to death. At least people don't have the power to kill me because they don't like what I write. I am not a martyr, and I don't claim that glorified status. I'm merely pointing out the violent reactions "Christians" can have to those with whom they disagree.

I will continue to write Christian stories, and they will probably never be "safe." There are plenty of Christian Amish romance books out there. They are good, but I don't need to add to them.

Thanks. Robin Helm]]> Robin H. Derbyshire Writers' GuildSat, 18 Feb 2012 13:33:32 +0000 http://www.dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?5,79927,80125#msg-80125 http://www.dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?5,79927,80125#msg-80125
As I mentioned before, I think that you are courageous in presenting your novel, because it is open to being attacked at by others, especially by some Christians over the idea of a romance between an angel and human.

But as I also mentioned earlier...there is already fiction available, especially in the young adult market, which also touches on romantic relationships between supernatural beings and humans...however, these are not likely written from a Christian viewpoint. You have provided a Christian alternative for people who are interested in reading this type of fiction...and you have presented the message of salvation in it quite nicely.

Even today, there will be people who will attack the works of C.S. Lewis, or even of Tolkien.

It is wonderful to know that someone has come to faith as a result of reading your story. That is indeed good news.]]> clouise Derbyshire Writers' GuildSat, 18 Feb 2012 08:24:11 +0000 http://www.dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?5,79927,80108#msg-80108 http://www.dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?5,79927,80108#msg-80108Just wanted to say that I think you have done an admirable job keeping an even mix of romance and Christianity. I also appreciate "Amazing Grace" but I am interested in seeing how you handle everything after marriage. All in all very good! Thanks for continuing to write, it has been a blessing to me!
Lizzie]]> Lizzie H. Derbyshire Writers' GuildFri, 17 Feb 2012 20:34:51 +0000 http://www.dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?5,79927,80104#msg-80104 http://www.dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?5,79927,80104#msg-80104 Brenna Derbyshire Writers' GuildFri, 17 Feb 2012 17:57:38 +0000 http://www.dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?5,79927,80102#msg-80102 http://www.dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?5,79927,80102#msg-80102
This series has been read by thousands of readers in over 80 countries. The plan of salvation has been given to all of them. The readers range from teens to senior adults, and many of them live in countries which are closed to missionaries. Many of these people do not own Bibles and never go to church, yet they have read the Scriptures contained in these stories.

I have been called a blasphemer by Christians who probably never told anyone about their faith, yet I know of at least one person who has made a profession of faith after reading these stories. These books have been read by soldiers in Afghanistan and military personnel in other countries as well. I know, because I have received Facebook messages and e-mails from them.

My first reaction is to stop posting the story, but rather than disappoint those who are reading, I will simply invite those who are offended to stop reading it. It is not my intention to offend anyone. I will not stop writing what I feel that God wants me to write. Robin Helm]]> Robin Helm Derbyshire Writers' GuildFri, 17 Feb 2012 17:20:39 +0000 http://www.dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?5,79927,80055#msg-80055 http://www.dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?5,79927,80055#msg-80055 Robin H. Derbyshire Writers' GuildThu, 16 Feb 2012 19:19:07 +0000 http://www.dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?5,79927,80054#msg-80054 http://www.dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?5,79927,80054#msg-80054 Brenna Derbyshire Writers' GuildThu, 16 Feb 2012 19:09:05 +0000 http://www.dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?5,79927,80028#msg-80028 http://www.dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?5,79927,80028#msg-80028 Suzanne O Derbyshire Writers' GuildThu, 16 Feb 2012 14:03:07 +0000 http://www.dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?5,79927,80022#msg-80022 http://www.dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?5,79927,80022#msg-80022 Robin H. Derbyshire Writers' GuildThu, 16 Feb 2012 13:20:29 +0000 http://www.dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?5,79927,80011#msg-80011 http://www.dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?5,79927,80011#msg-80011 Suzanne O Derbyshire Writers' GuildThu, 16 Feb 2012 10:24:31 +0000 http://www.dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?5,79927,79956#msg-79956 http://www.dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?5,79927,79956#msg-79956
Susanne]]> Lili Derbyshire Writers' GuildWed, 15 Feb 2012 01:39:16 +0000 http://www.dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?5,79927,79949#msg-79949 http://www.dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?5,79927,79949#msg-79949
I must admit that I'm personally still a bit disturbed at the idea of an angel/human pairing in a Christian context, but have been fascinated with your plot. There's a lot of fiction already out there about "angels" (dark/fallen/non-biblical/whatever) and humans so I really think that you are pretty courageous to stick out your neck to present a Christian fantasy along these lines.

I was interested in how you handled Darcy's human nature and his need for a Saviour and you got the basic message across. As for him having a hybrid nature...well, in the land of fiction, if God wanted for that to occur, it could happen. At any rate, whether people agree with the story or not, at least it will generate discussion and inform.

Looking forward to how you will resolve the plot.

clouise]]> clouise Derbyshire Writers' GuildTue, 14 Feb 2012 20:45:23 +0000 http://www.dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?5,79927,79941#msg-79941 http://www.dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?5,79927,79941#msg-79941 little Nell Derbyshire Writers' GuildTue, 14 Feb 2012 18:44:50 +0000 http://www.dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?5,79927,79939#msg-79939 http://www.dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?5,79927,79939#msg-79939
Otherwise, ROBIN H, YOU ARE MY HERO. Seriously.

I loved reading about Elizabeth's curiosity in this chapter - it was cute and so very, very human.

Thank you for updating, (and for making my Valentine's Day just tiny bit less lonely with your wonderful update).]]> Chia-en Derbyshire Writers' GuildTue, 14 Feb 2012 18:27:58 +0000 http://www.dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?5,79927,79934#msg-79934 http://www.dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?5,79927,79934#msg-79934 Sue-Z Derbyshire Writers' GuildTue, 14 Feb 2012 16:32:56 +0000 http://www.dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?5,79927,79927#msg-79927 http://www.dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?5,79927,79927#msg-79927I value my betas more and more as this story progresses. Thank you so much to Gayle (scmema), Steph (SdHamm), Julianne (BenjisMom), Wendi, Tiffany, and Maria (China).

Chapter 4

“But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”
Romans 5:8

September, 2008
Darcy was at first amused by the flurry of activity in the Bennet household; however, his amusement was soon turned to distress by the dwindling amount of time left in Elizabeth’s days for him. Each time he was there – which was nearly every day – Elizabeth, her mother, and usually Janna were tending to more wedding details. Whenever he was allowed to do so, he helped with the plans. He and Elizabeth had put an engagement announcement in the local papers, using a favorite photograph taken for publicity purposes before the SoulFire rallies, and the two of them had made arrangements for the rehearsal dinner to be catered at the local country club, but Darcy soon realized that there was a myriad of things to be done with which he could not assist Elizabeth.

After selecting her wedding dress, Elizabeth had pleased her mother by following a Southern tradition and having her wedding portrait made, to be unveiled at their reception. Lynne had engaged the same photographer to take pictures at the wedding while his assistant shot video. In addition, Lynne had reserved the church and the fellowship hall, selected a florist, and, along with her daughters, chosen the flowers. A lady from the church who had directed Janna’s wedding had agreed to direct Elizabeth and Darcy’s as well. Elizabeth and her mother had met with the caterer and discussed the wedding cake, the menu, and the table settings. Elizabeth, Lynne, and the bridesmaids had spent a pleasant Saturday shopping for the bridesmaids’ dresses and having lunch together. Lynne’s niece, Bethany, had come from Virginia for the weekend, and she and her mother, Grace, had joined the Bennet ladies for the day.

Darcy and Elizabeth had ordered their invitations and drawn up a list of wedding guests together. Because Darcy had no one to add to the list other than those people he and Elizabeth both knew, he had already told the Bennets that his brothers would be his groomsmen, but his Father would not be able to attend as He was quite old and rarely left His home.

Speaking with David and Lynne, Darcy explained, “My Father wishes you to know that He will be with us in Spirit, though not in flesh. He regrets that He will not meet you at our happy occasion, but wants me to assure you that He will meet you in Person sometime in the future. He says that He knows you already through my eyes, and He is very happy that I am marrying your daughter. In fact, I have spoken to Him so often in such glowing terms about your family and Elizabeth that He has told me we were meant to be together. He knew that I loved her before I was aware of it myself.”

David was puzzled by Darcy’s manner of speaking and asked, “How old is your Father, Fitzwilliam? Perhaps we should go see Him if He cannot travel here.”

Roark put his hands on David’s shoulders and spoke into his mind, Do not be anxious, David. All is well with Fitzwilliam’s Father.

Darcy smiled. “My Father would seem ancient to you, but He does not seem old to me. He is so full of life and power that He is ageless in my eyes. He does not receive guests, however.”

Lynne looked confused by Darcy’s statement, and Niall whispered to her, Lynne, Fitzwilliam is trustworthy. Be at peace.

Privately, David and Lynne thought that Darcy’s Father must be rather eccentric and likely very wealthy, but they talked of it only between themselves. Niall and Roark smiled knowingly at each other whenever their charges discussed their Master.

The only part of the engagement period that Darcy was not enjoying was the time he had to spend apart from Elizabeth while she did things in which he was not allowed to participate – such as choosing her dress, shopping with the bridesmaids, and having her wedding portrait made. He was not supposed to see her dress before she walked down the aisle as his bride, and she was adhering rigidly to the rules on that point. He could somewhat understand her desire to see his face when he saw her in the dress for the first time, coming down the aisle toward him, but he did not comprehend why he was left out of all of the other outings.

Darcy had barely arrived at her house on Saturday morning when he found to his chagrin that she was going shopping with her mother yet again.

I find it difficult to believe that there is anything left to buy in Spartanburg, Darcy groused to his brothers.

Elizabeth does not really enjoy shopping, Darcy. You know that, Gabriel said quietly.

“Elizabeth, why can I not go with you this time? I miss you. I hardly see you anymore. Our lack of time together has become so stressful to me that I am actually grateful when we have classes. At least I am with you there. Will you let me come?” asked Darcy, kissing her goodbye at her door. Elizabeth had told Darcy that he would spend the day with her father until she returned.

Elizabeth chuckled, “This will be a good time for some ‘male bonding’ between you and Dad.”

He pouted. “I much prefer to spend the time bonding with you instead.”

She shook her head with a smile, and Darcy held her as he asked, “Why not, love?”

Elizabeth blushed and answered, “Because we are going to buy something for me to wear as a surprise for you.”

He frowned a little. “I think there will be enough surprises already. If it is for me, why can I not have a say in it? I am getting to know the words of ‘Amazing Grace’ extremely well, for you use it continually to block your thoughts from me.”

She hesitated, and then smiled shyly. “We’re going to Victoria’s Secret. Now do you understand?”

“No,” he answered. “Who is Victoria? And why would you prefer to spend time with her rather than with me? I am more confused than I was before.”

Niall, standing behind Lynne, snorted.

Darcy, it is a lingerie store. Elizabeth and her mother are going to select what she will wear on your wedding night.

Oh... Oh! Darcy’s eyes lit with understanding.

Elizabeth saw awareness dawn in his eyes. “I know neither Gabriel nor Michael enlightened you, so who is your informant?” she asked in a low voice, looking toward her mother to see if she was listening.

“My best man,” Darcy whispered in her ear.

Their whispering had caught Lynne’s attention, and she grabbed her purse as she headed toward them, Niall following behind her.

“Let’s go, El.” Smiling at Darcy, Lynne said, “You guys have fun. Lunch is in the ‘fridge for you. We’ll be back in a couple of hours.” Lynne walked between Elizabeth and Darcy as she headed out the door.

Michael and I are really looking forward to this. Are we not, Michael? teased Niall.

Michael glared at him. I truly dislike shopping. Especially for clothing. And looking at lingerie has to be the worst type of shopping possible.

That reminds me, thought Darcy. My groomsmen, future father-in-law, ushers, and I have an appointment early next month for fittings for our tuxes. Elizabeth wants them to match, so she is coming along to help us pick them out. My tux will not do after all, so I will have to be fitted as well. The three of you can ‘meet’ us at the store. Michael, Niall will need a warrior to guard Lynne while we are gone unless she decides to come with Elizabeth.

More clothing! muttered Michael while Gabriel smiled beatifically.

At least you are not having to eat – yet, thought Darcy.

Michael’s face assumed a glum expression at the idea.

Elizabeth stood on her tiptoes to kiss Darcy goodbye. “We won’t be gone any longer than necessary. You’ll thank me later. I promise.”

He surprised her by kissing her soundly in front of her mother. At Lynne’s amused look, he grinned. “Just practicing, Mom. Only two months until the big day, and I want to be sure to get this part right.”

She raised an eyebrow. “Somehow, Fitzwilliam, I have no worries on that score. The rest of the day may collapse around our ears, but you will get that right, I have no doubt.” Lynne grabbed her daughter’s hand and pulled her to the car, chuckling.

Their angelic escort was right behind them.

~~oo~~

It was a cool, late September Monday, and Darcy left his townhouse in Spartanburg early, anticipating having breakfast with Elizabeth before they went to classes. Gabriel flew over his Escalade as they wove through the morning traffic.

Lynne had taken the day off work to see to some wedding details, and Elizabeth was waiting for Darcy in the parking lot at Converse when he arrived. She was driving her own car – a white Toyota Rav4 they had picked out together the previous weekend. Michael stood beside the car, waiting for her to get out. Instead, she lowered her window and smiled at Darcy in excitement. He got out of his car, followed by Gabriel, and walked to her car, leaning over to kiss her through the open window.

“Hi, handsome,” she said as he broke the kiss. “Charlotte rode with me, but she’s already gone to an early class. Let me take you to breakfast this morning. You always drive.”

“Yes, I do, because I like to get to my destination in one piece. You drive entirely too fast, you know,” Darcy replied with a stern look.

“Ah, but I have my own personal guardian angel – two in fact – to make sure that I’m safe. If I promise to slow down to your granny speed, will you agree to ride with me?” she asked, tilting her head to look up at him.

He thought a moment. “There will be a price to be paid.”

She laughed. “I’m betting that I can pay it fairly easily. What’s your price? Name it.”

“Two kisses, and an ‘I love you,’” he answered looking very serious.

“Well, come around and get in the passenger seat, and I’ll work on that,” she teased.

She watched him in the rearview mirror as he walked around the car. I am a lucky woman, and I don’t care if you hear me. She saw him smile as he heard her thoughts, and her stomach did a little flip.

He opened the door and settled himself in the seat. “Pay up, and I will not accept short, perfunctory kisses. I want real kisses if I am to risk my life.”

“Happy to oblige,” she said, turning toward him and leaning to take his face between her hands. Elizabeth kissed him eagerly, and pulled back a few inches. “That’s one.”

“Say it,” he whispered.

“Say what?” she asked innocently.

“You know what I want to hear, and you promised. Say it,” he insisted in a low voice.

“I love you, Fitzwilliam.” Elizabeth moved toward him for the second kiss, but Darcy held her back for a moment.

“I love you more. I win,” he said just before he took her into his arms.

That was tricky. You know I let you win, she thought as she kissed him.

I know you did, but I still love you more, he answered, enjoying his prize.

~~oo~~

The morning news was on the television in the restaurant, droning in the background as Darcy and Elizabeth slid into their booth, Michael and Gabriel following them to stand beside their charges. They had been at the diner fairly regularly for the last two months, and it was only a moment before a waitress appeared to fill their coffee cups and take their orders. They wished her a smiling “good morning” and ordered their usual meals.

“I have a surprise for you this afternoon,” Darcy said once they were again alone at the table, his blue eyes twinkling.

“Oh, I love surprises. What is it?” Elizabeth asked, leaning toward him, her face wreathed in delight.

“If I told you it would not be a surprise. At least that is what you have been telling me over and over for the past two months. I need your cooperation, however, so I will have to tell you I suppose,” said Darcy with an exaggerated sigh.

Elizabeth raised her eyebrows. “So…tell me.”

After a pause for effect, Darcy showed his excitement in his reply, “I have several houses for us to look at this afternoon. I have taken into consideration all the things we have been talking about, and I contacted a real estate agent to line up showings for us. I hope that we can find something we both like fairly quickly. I want us to have a real house when we are married – not my small townhouse.”

“I’m assuming you scheduled the appointments for after classes today?” she asked.

“Yes. Is that all right?” He suddenly realized that he should have asked her about her plans before he made the appointments.

He was relieved when she smiled and replied, “Luckily for you, I have the afternoon free. I’ll text Mom and let her know what we’re doing. She’ll be ecstatic.”

“I hope so. Charlotte can drive your car home, and I will take you back to Bethel after we look at the houses, if that is all right with you,” Darcy said.

“Charlotte is on the short ‘approved’ list to drive my car, so I suppose that will work,” she replied.

Looking over Elizabeth’s shoulder, Darcy’s attention was drawn to the face on the screen. Gregory Wickham was with a lovely woman, holding her arm possessively. Darcy was amazed to hear the lady being presented as the wife of his nemesis.

“Have you heard that Gregory is married?” he asked Elizabeth, nodding at the screen.

She turned quickly to look at the couple, dressed to the nines for a charity function and pausing to talk to reporters before they walked into Lincoln Center.

“Married? You’re kidding! When did that happen?” she asked, stunned.

“According to the report, they married quietly last week after a long courtship,” Darcy answered.

They fell silent, riveted to the television, watching a much more mature Gregory than they had known as he smiled at his blonde, blue-eyed wife while they charmed the nation together.

~~oo~~

Each day seemed to bring a new revelation concerning Gregory Wickham, and Elizabeth, Darcy, Jonathan, and Charlotte were frankly astounded at the false life he had built in a few months. In fact, Darcy suspected that his plans had been laid for years, and Lucifer had waited only for the right time to implement them. Lucifer’s human servants must have had everything in place, ready for his commands.

It seemed that Gregory had been the darling of the media from the moment he had burst onto the scene, garnering national attention in every major news outlet – both in print and on the small screen. He had gone from political obscurity to having the star status of a savior virtually overnight, and it was a foregone conclusion that he would be the next senator from Massachusetts. Gregory Wickham was well-educated, brilliant, talented, knowledgeable, extremely wealthy, and extraordinarily handsome with a beautiful, intelligent wife who added the full support of her well-connected family. He had absolutely no baggage, for reporters could not find a single woman who had ever dated him, except for his wife. He had no friends from college and no record of saying or doing anything controversial, and his oratorical skills were unmatched. His ability to mesmerize an audience was remarkable; he was universally hailed as the only answer to the country’s problems and possibly the best hope for the future of the world.

The Wickhams traveled in the highest circles of society, though they were very active in work for the homeless and other charitable endeavors. Mrs. Wickham, formerly Anne De Bourgh, handled their obligations to the less fortunate by hosting fundraisers and serving as the head of The De Bourgh Foundation, a non-profit organization which awarded grants to charities and individuals who sought to improve the living standards and promote the health of the poverty stricken peoples of the world.

Gregory’s political platform was deliberately vague – a blend of promises of peace, equality for all people, and economic security for the masses. He received the unqualified support of the wealthiest as well as the poorest in society, for both stood to benefit greatly from his election. The financial burden of implementing Gregory’s proposed “New Order” would fall on the middle class, though he never presented a plan showing that particular aspect of his program. His smiling, beautiful face was on the cover of nearly every magazine, and people believed all the lies he uttered. He was a great favorite on the west coast and was heavily funded by the elite of the entertainment industry. Friendships with the rich and famous came easily to him, and pictures of the Wickhams with celebrities were commonplace in various media outlets as they attended charity fundraisers, premiers, galas, and sporting events.

The people of the United States were very impressed with Gregory Wickham.

~~oo~~

Darcy and Elizabeth picked up take-out to eat at his townhouse after viewing several suitable homes in the Spartanburg area. They had prayed about it together and decided to hold off on a decision until they looked at a few available houses in Bethel. Because they expected to be traveling most of the time, both of them felt that it would be pleasant to live closer to Elizabeth’s parents so that they could spend time with them more easily on the rare occasions when they were home. The realtor had promised to set up showings for them within the next few days.

They sat together on Darcy’s new couch and placed their food on the matching coffee table. In the previous week, he and Elizabeth had done a little shopping of their own, and he was very pleased with their purchases. The idea of making a home with Elizabeth was already quite appealing to him, and it seemed to get better the more she was involved in his life.

After they had finished eating, they gathered up the containers, took them to the kitchen, and disposed of them in the trashcan under the sink.

Michael and Gabriel stood against the wall between the two rooms which were separated by a bar.

Elizabeth’s face took on a dreamy quality when she turned to face Darcy in the small kitchen, and he smiled when he heard the words of “Amazing Grace” being sung in her mind.

He smiled, pulling her into his arms, and asked, “What are you blocking from me, love? You know that you can tell me anything.”

“I’ve been thinking of something for a while, and it’s a little embarrassing,” she said, putting her cheek against his chest and looking down so that he could not see her face.

“I hope that you can share it with me. I particularly like that expression on your face, and I would love to know the thoughts that put it there,” said Darcy, holding her close.

Her voice was so low that he barely caught the words. “I want to be kissed by an angel.”

Darcy pulled back a few inches and used one of his hands to tilt her face up to his. “You have been kissed by an angel many times. What do you mean?”

“I mean, I want you to be an angel when you kiss me. I want to know what it’s like to kiss the angel that saved my life by flying me out of the gorge. I was angry with you, but I still recognized that you were beautiful in an otherworldly way,” she said as she blushed furiously.

Darcy was surprised at her admission. “You really want to see me in my other form? You were not frightened?”

She laughed a little nervously as she said, “I have dreamed of it. I know Michael must think I’m weird when he watches those dreams in my mind. Will you let me see you? Is it allowed?”

“Really?” Darcy was ridiculously pleased. “I have wanted you to know all of me and accept me as I am for as long as I have loved you. I will happily morph for you. And Elizabeth – remember that I have never kissed anyone in that form. I wonder what it will be like as much as you do.”

He released her and stepped back a few feet before assuming solid angelic form, never taking his eyes from hers. The transformation was accomplished in less than a second. Darcy had never willingly let a human being see him in the form in which he had lived in for ten millennia, and he had no idea what Elizabeth’s reaction would be. He smiled as she looked at him, hoping to ease the shock she likely would experience upon seeing him as an angel, but he could not know that the radiance of his face would further stun her. The light he exuded chased the darkness from every corner of the room and reflected back to him from her glittering eyes.

Darcy heard her mind go completely blank as her eyes widened and her mouth formed an “O.” Elizabeth moved further back so that she could see all of him in his glorious form. He glowed softly, his arms bulging from his sleeveless tunic. His golden armor gleamed under the kitchen light as he watched her eyes move from his feet slowly up to his face, taking in his muscular legs and molded breastplate. Because he was not in battle, his helmet had not appeared, and his shining hair fell in loose curls around his neck. His shield and sword hung at his waist, and his translucent, shimmery wings were pulled close to his back. He suddenly realized that Elizabeth had never seen him so unclothed; he had neither completely removed his shirt around her nor worn shorts above his knees, and now he stood before her in a short, guardian tunic.

Darcy could tell that she was breathing faster even as he heard her heart rate quicken. The flush across her skin was lovely, but he was unable to read her jumbled thoughts.

After a few long moments, Darcy began to worry. Why is she not speaking? Have I frightened her?

Gabriel reassured him. Give her some time, Darcy. To her knowledge, she has met Xander only once, and the circumstances were not pleasant. Let her adjust in her own way.

I have seen her dreaming of you in this form over and over again, brother, thought Michael. Trust me on this. She is not frightened of you, although perhaps she is overwhelmed at this time by her own feelings. Not many humans are able to live out their fantasies, but she is living one of hers now. She likes your angelic form – very much. Michael chuckled. Expect her to ask you to change into this form often.

I certainly hope you are right, thought Darcy as he watched her, waiting for her to move. She has yet to even blink her eyes!

“Elizabeth?” Darcy extended his hand to her.

She was still unable to speak, though he stepped closer to take her hand and held it in his, lightly stroking it with his fingers. When Darcy touched her, he was surprised to find that her hands were moist. As he stroked her hand, her breathing became even faster and shallower, and she glanced around the small room as if she did not know where to look.

“Are you afraid of me?” Darcy asked, concerned.

Elizabeth cleared her throat, glanced into his eyes, and quickly looked away. “No, not at all. I just don’t know what to do. You are so beautiful, Fitzwilliam, that I don’t know how I should act.” She turned her eyes back to his. “Can I touch you? You are holy, and I am not. When I look at you, I am confronted by my own sin. Can you ever forgive me?” Her voice broke on the last word, and she caught her breath, looking at the floor.

He was thoroughly confused by her question. “Forgive you for what, Elizabeth?” he asked, stepping closer to cup her face with his hand. She caught her breath, lowering her eyes to avoid looking into his face.

“When I fell and you caught me, I was so angry with you. I never really thanked you for saving my life. I am so full of sin that I actually turned from God – and from you – to go with Gregory, and you rescued me again, knowing that I would still reject you. I remember how you begged me to let you drive me home, promising that you would not talk to me – ‘bother’ me, as you said. How can you stand me? I acted like a spoiled child. How can God forgive me for doubting Him?” Elizabeth tried to turn her face away, but he held her chin firmly, forcing her to face him. She slowly raised her eyes to his, and his heart broke to see them filled with unshed tears.

Darcy’s voice was soft and low as he said, “Oh, my love. I was glad that I was there to help you, even if it parted us. I wanted to tell you the truth about me, but the timing was never right. I knew that you had every right to be angry with me because I was there when Richard hid the truth from you, and I knew how you would feel. Please believe me when I say that losing you for a short time only made me value you more when you accepted my love again. Elizabeth, I am not perfect, and neither are you, but we are both forgiven by God through Christ. We love because He first loved us. We forgive because He forgave us. You know that He has forgiven you for your short crisis of faith. Our Father understands our frailties.” He bent his head to kiss her tears away, and after he had feathered her eyelids with his lips, she lifted her face to his. The glory of his countenance was reflected in her eyes.

Darcy kissed her gently, pouring his soul into his touch, and she put her arms around his waist, feeling his wings for the first time. Though she was greatly enjoying his kisses, she was momentarily distracted.

What is that? she asked, moving her hands gently up and down his back, barely touching him.

Those are my wings. Do you want to see them?

Do we have to stop kissing? Elizabeth queried.

Yes. His answer was short.

I can wait until later, then. She reached further around him to explore his wings with her hands, and his mind emptied of coherent thought.

Your wings are muscular, strong, and much thinner than I imagined – yet there is a softness and warmth, like a baby’s skin, Elizabeth thought.

He pulled away, turning his face so that she could not see his expression.

“Did I do something wrong?” Elizabeth was slightly alarmed.

His voice was ragged. “No, it is just that…no one has ever touched me there before. I was not expecting it. I did not know how it would feel.”

“Fitzwilliam, did I hurt you?” she asked, more urgently.

“No. Quite the opposite.” He lowered his lashes against his reddened cheeks in embarrassment.

Michael snorted.

Gabriel glared at Michael.

“Oh,” she said slowly, with understanding. “Then I won’t do that again – at least until after we are married.”

“That would probably be for the best. I did not expect them to be so – sensitive. All of my ideas about physical intimacy are based on my observations of human males, and none of them have wings.” Darcy was silent while he struggled for control. After a moment he looked at her and asked, “Would you still like to see them?”

“Do you mind?” she asked.

Darcy could feel the curiosity flowing from her in waves.

“Not at all.” He turned to stride into the living room, relieved to leave the small space.

“Where are you going?” Elizabeth asked as she followed him.

“There is insufficient room in the kitchen,” he answered.

Darcy stood in the center of the living room and faced her, unfurling his silvery wings and holding them out so that she could see them. His wingspan was at least ten feet across; he was awe-inspiring. He watched her as she walked around him, ducking carefully under his spread wings. Darcy knew from her thoughts that she wanted to touch him, but she held herself back, concentrating on how his wings looked rather than how they felt.

When she was in front of him again, she seemed puzzled. “There are no feathers.”

Darcy’s laughter came out like a bark. “Feathers?”

“Birds have feathers,” she said reasonably.

“Bats, flying fish, and penguins do not. All wings are not feathered. Our wings are layered with feather-shaped membrane which is more responsive to touch than feathers are, I suppose. There are nerve endings and muscles throughout my wings so that I can adjust them as needed in order to fly in different ways,” He drew his wings back to mold against his body, and the movement of the air caused her hair to ruffle a bit.

“Your wings are beautiful – not at all like the wings of bats or penguins, but they are not how I thought they would be. Their structure seems to resemble the more rounded wings of birds rather than the sharp, bony wings of bats, though they are featherless and more flexible than any wings I have ever seen. Did I offend you?” she asked.

“No, I was unprepared for your question. That is all.” He smiled broadly.

“Angel wings have feathers in all the pictures,” she pointed out.

“You mean ‘paintings,’ not ‘pictures,’” he corrected.

“So the artists are wrong. Interesting. Why are there no pictures?” she asked. Her thoughts betrayed how badly she wanted to explore his wings with her fingers, and he concluded that she kept questioning him to keep herself distracted.

“My, you are inquisitive tonight. I suppose because angels cannot be photographed well in angelic form, and we have not often appeared to artists or anyone else.” His handsome face showed his amusement.

“Yes, the glowing would not look right in a picture,” she mused.

“I sense that there is something else you want to know,” he stated.

“Well…” she said uncertainly.

“You have officially kissed an angel and seen my wings. How else can I satisfy your curiosity, my love?” he asked as he stepped even closer to her.

She put her hands on his chest and looked up at him shyly. “Fitzwilliam, I dream about you – quite often – and in those dreams, you are holding me against you, and we are – could you take me flying?”

“I have flown with you twice, you know,” he replied with a grin.

“I know you flew with me at the lodge. When else have we flown together?” Elizabeth drew her brows together, frowning slightly.

“I flew you to the hospital after your four-wheeler accident. You were unconscious,” Darcy answered, watching her face.

Her surprise was evident. “Really? I wish I had been awake. Why didn’t anyone see you?”

“I kept to the treetops, and then changed into human form after I landed in the woods behind the hospital. I carried you into the emergency room myself,” he said. “To be solid enough to carry you, I have to stay at the edge of visibility. Invisible flight is faster, however.”

“You have degrees of solidity?” she asked in fascination.

“Yes. I can be so invisible that everything passes through me, just solid enough to stop cars and other things while remaining unseen, or completely solid like I am now. You would not be able to touch me in any form other than this one, though you could feel the peace and comfort of God being relayed to you if I touched you or spoke to you.” Darcy tried to keep his explanations simple. He had a lifetime to tell her things, and he did not want to overload her with too much information at once.

“Hmmm…You were with me when evil was in my room, when I had the chicken pox and was in the hospital, when I left church and hid in the bushes at my house, and when I looked at the pictures of Richard and Caroline, weren’t you? I remember God’s comfort at those times,” she said, smiling.

“Yes, I was there, holding you and whispering to you. I already had begun to love you, and it was agonizing to watch you suffer. I loved you long before you met me,” he said softly, taking her into his arms and kissing her again. After a few moments, he lifted his head and kissed her forehead. “I have to take you home now, but in ten weeks, you will stay with me.”

His voice held such joy that she looked up at him and was amazed at his radiance. He seemed to glow even more brightly, and he vibrated slightly with his emotion.

She held her breath. You literally take my breath away. You are glorious, my love, she thought.

You do not know how you affect me, Elizabeth. You have been stunning me, innocently torturing me, since you were fourteen.

“I take it that you shine more brilliantly when you are happy?” she asked, smiling.

“Yes. I will have to take care on our wedding day to keep my angelic nature firmly under regulation. It would not do for me to blur all of the pictures,” he stated solemnly.

“Could that really happen?” she asked, a little worried.

He laughed. “No. I can easily control my forms. I do not change without wishing to do so, unless I have a head injury apparently.”

She remembered how he had appeared to glimmer following his bicycle accident. “So my eyes weren’t playing tricks on me the day you had a concussion?”

“You really did see me in this form. I had my brothers quite worried for a while,” he said as he smiled at Michael and Gabriel. They shifted uneasily, unused to being exposed.

“So they are over there?” she asked, following his eyes.

“Yes. They are always with us, but do not think of it unless you need them. They are not comfortable with your knowledge yet,” he explained.

“That makes three of us,” she said in a wry tone.

“You are not comfortable with your awareness of my nature?” he asked.

“I am perfectly comfortable with you. It’s knowing that Michael and Gabriel are there watching us all the time that requires some attitude adjustment on my part. If I have to get used to knowing about them, I suppose that they will have to adjust to my knowledge of them as well.” She looked in the general direction of Michael and Gabriel and spoke again, “I’m sorry, guys. That’s just how it is.”

Darcy smiled at his brothers. “I think she summarized it well, gentlemen.” Looking back at Elizabeth, he said, “And with that, I must take you home before your father changes his mind about me.”

He changed back into human form and took her hand, pulling her toward the door.

“But I have more questions, Fitzwilliam, and I want to fly,” she protested, tugging gently against his hand.

He chuckled. “You will always have more questions, love, and I will answer them. And I will certainly take you flying soon. I have wanted to do that for a long time now. We do not have to do everything today. We have the rest of our lives.”

She nodded her head in agreement, smiling as she allowed him to lead her from his home.

After they had driven to her house, while they sat in his car with the moonlight playing on her curls, Darcy looked at her beloved face with his heart in his eyes and asked, “Well, what was it like to kiss an angel, my love?”

Her eyes were dreamy again as she answered with a sigh, “Heavenly. Just heavenly.”

~~oo~~

If you are offended by the romance angle of the story, please let me know. I am writing Christian fantasy fiction, and would appreciate feedback, particularly if you think I am crossing a line.

Scripture quotations taken from the New American Standard Bible®,
Copyright© 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995
by The Lockman Foundation
Used by permission. (www.Lockman.org)]]> Robin H. Derbyshire Writers' GuildTue, 14 Feb 2012 14:16:01 +0000