Beginning, Previous Section, Section III, Next Section
Act VI Scene IV
Int. Logan International Airport
Chris stepped onto American soil and smiled. He was happy and wanted to see Julia. That he knew that she was in love with him made things easier for him. But of course he was hearing all of this second hand, he needed her to say it to him. And then there was Natalie. How would she react to his being with Julia. He knew that he was going to ask Julia to live with him at the Townhouse. He had it all planned out. His mother was happy for him, but did warn him to take care of Ted and her ex-husband. William didn't think Chris had a problem defending himself. Chris also came home one house wealthier. Kimberley gave up Pemberley to take on Royal duties, and William had his will appropriately changed to have Christopher take over the house. He knew that Julia would love Pemberley.
He picked up his car from the garage and quickly made it to Charlestown to see Julia, he had to see her. He felt his heart start beating erratically. He quickly parked the car on the narrow road, and hastily exited it. He pressed the buzzer and couldn't wait to be shown in. He would tell her, he would show her how much she meant to him. Quickly knocking on the door, an older woman answered.
"William?" she whispered softly.
"No," he said confusedly, "Christopher. Is Julia here?"
The woman closed her eyes and reopened and the person was still in front of her. "Who are you?"
"I'm sorry, is Julia here?" he looked at her oddly. "Julia, the girl who lives here about five-six roughly one hundred twenty pounds, long dark hair?"
"My daughter. Yes, I'm sorry please come in, Mr…"
"Darcy. Christopher Darcy."
She sunk heavily to the couch. "I should introduce myself, Mrs. Toshie Yukimota, but most people call me Spring, Mr. Darcy."
Chris looked at her and smiled, then the realization dawned on him. "Spring?"
"You look exactly like your father did." She smiled to him. "How has he been?"
"Fine. He's been fine. You and my father were…"
Julia came out of the kitchen and saw Christopher. "Oh, Chris. You're home." She smiled to him, and he managed to relax a little.
"I just came home." He turned back to Spring. "I was just making my acquaintance with your mother. Can we talk?" Spring noticed her daughter's reaction to the very handsome gentleman and silently cringed.
"Sure, Mamma, will you excuse us?" Spring nodded her assent, and Julia led him into the kitchen.
He sat down at the table, and she picked up a rag and started wiping down the countertops. He thought he had it all planned out, he thought he knew what to say. She avoided his gaze and continued wiping the counters.
"Julia, I received a telegram from Ted. He told me that he asked you to marry him and you accepted." She started to say something, but he held his hand up to let him finish. "He also mentioned that he took back that same offer, because you were in love with another man."
"I wonder if I have any bleach around." She said distractedly. Chris got up and pulled the rag out of her hands and held them in his own.
"Julia, I love you."
"Ah, good joke. I'm not tall. And I'm definitely not a blonde. I'm quite strange loo…." Before she could finish, he bent down and kissed her.
"You are not strange looking, you are beautiful." He said happily.
She held her fingers to her lips, shocked. "You kissed me."
"Yes, I did. And I'll do it again." He brought her face closer to her again and this time, he pulled her close to him and kissed her more delicately and more passionately. She returned it with equal force and enthusiasm.
"I love you, Julia. Tell me, please tell me that you love me too?" he looked scared like he just opened a can of worms and wasn't sure what he was going to get.
She wasn't going to let the tears fall, but they did anyway. "Oh Christopher, I do love you and I hate you." She hugged him tightly. "I thought you weren't coming back."
"The telegram made me come back. I had to see you. I had to hear you tell me that you loved me." He smiled to her and rubbed his nose with hers. "I've never felt about anyone this way. You have completely taken me in, Julia."
Spring came into the kitchen, "Mr. Darcy, now you know that you can not have a relationship with my daughter."
Julia shot a look at her mother. "Why? If we love each other, what could possibly come between us?"
"His father." She said monotonously.
"My father knows of Julia. I've explained that she was half Japanese and half American. He has no problem."
"But that was before you found out I was his ex-wife. He will not allow his son to marry the daughter of his ex-wife."
"What?" Julia said angrily. "What do you mean ex-wife?"
"Darling, before I met your father, I was married to William Darcy. We divorced."
Julia remembered some long ago words from Jane Bingley. "It was bitter. Why was it bitter, mamma?" Chris wrapped an arm around Julia's waist.
"It was a long time ago. But I can tell you that William Darcy will not condone your two getting married." Spring rapidly exited the kitchen.
"Oh Chris."
"Don't worry about it." But he knew that it would be difficult explaining this information to his family.
End of Scene IV
Act VI Scene V
Int. Christopher Darcy's Townhouse
Christopher had taken Julia back into his arms and tried soothing her. He told her regardless of his parent's feelings, he loved her and that was the only important thing that mattered to him. He wasn't about to lose the one thing that took him twenty-two years to find. His parents be damned! He paced back and forth thinking and thinking. He stopped at the sideboard and poured himself some whiskey.
Julia was adamant about finding out everything about her mother's marriage to William Darcy, she wanted to know why it was a bitter divorce. Christopher had already heard bits and pieces of what had happened, and knew that when she did find out, it would hurt her. She had a wonderful relationship with her mother and this could tear that apart.
The stately grandfather clock struck one on the hour. Christopher sat down on the couch still thinking and still wondering. He was just about to head to bed when the ringing doorbell startled him.
Julia stood before him, red-eyed and tired. He immediately ushered her in. "How did you get here?"
"I took a cab. She blackmailed him, Chris."
"I know." He led her into the living room. "She got five million dollars out of him. I thought that my schooling was paid by scholarships, but she never sent in the paperwork. She used that money for my schooling."
"Well it did some good." He tried to joke. But she just shot him a look.
"She's right, your father will have none of me." She cried softly. He ran his hand through his hair and paced some more.
"My father does not dictate my life, I'm a grown man who makes his own decisions. You really shouldn't worry about this."
"They could disown you."
"Julia, you're being a bit dramatic, they will not disown me and they will love you. You are not your mother. What she did happened well over twenty years ago. They do forgive and forget."
"I hope you are right. I should get going, mamma will wonder where I've disappeared to."
Chris looked down at his feet and mentioned: "You could stay here tonight."
She got up and pressed her palm to his cheek. "I would love to, but not like this. My mother will be here for another two days, and then she heads to San Diego to meet up with her husband. I'll come then."
She saw all the passion in his eyes just for her and stumbled a bit, it took her by surprise. "I promise, darling, in two day's time."
"How are you getting home?"
"I had the cab wait for me." She moved her hand from his cheek to behind his head and slowly brought his lips to hers. "Two days, Mr. Darcy." She smiled to him, then left.
Julia sat back in the cab happy. Happier than she's felt in a long time. Knowing that she was loved by him, warmed her heart considerably. To think that a man of his stature would love someone like her, amazed her. She thought back to her harsh behavior to him and they way she made him feel, then. How things have changed! She called him vain. He was vain. She called him a spoiled rich boy, and he was really. However, he was in love with her. She laughed to herself, then hugged herself tightly. Two days, she thought ecstatically.
Chris felt empty with her gone. The brief moments that she was there made him happy. He knew exactly what to do in regards to his family. He wouldn't give them a choice, they would accept her regardless of her parentage. His parents were good people, with good and open hearts. They would see Julia and see how beautiful she was and how much he was in love with her.
He could just marry her and be done with it. Don't fault the children for the sins of the parent. With Kimberley getting married, he could bring Julia to the wedding, introduce her as his fiancée, but there was Ted to deal with, and he would definitely be there. It just happened. Nobody meant to hurt anyone.
He shook his head, he was rationalizing way too much.
He headed up the stairs and heard her voice again. "Two days, Mr. Darcy." And dreamt of what that day would bring.
End of Act VI
Act VII Scene I
Int. Julia's Charlestown Apartment
Julia slept in late the next morning, her dreams had been so vivid of Christopher that upon waking, she almost regretted waking up at all, but when she opened her eyes and saw that the sun was shining high in the sky, she knew exactly what to do to prepare for tomorrow. She called Davio and set up an appointment.
Spring had been up and out early in the morning, harsh words were spoken between mother and daughter, and she didn't think that her daughter would want to greet the day looking at her. She tried to explain that she did indeed love William Darcy, but it was difficult loving a man who was in love with someone else. She had felt used by him. Although when they lived in Japan, they were very happy living as man and wife, as soon as he came to Boston, and Elizabeth Bennet showed up on his doorstep, Spring knew it was over.
She tried telling her how meeting Julia's father was the best thing that ever happened to her. He gave her Julia Olive and Shawn Jr., and her two children made her the happiest ever. They were truly brought forth by the love of a man and a woman.
Spring sat on a park bench at the Public Gardens watching people pass by. She knew what had to be done, and slowly she walked through the familiar streets of Boston, remembering times gone by. The house still looked the same and hadn't changed a bit. She rang the doorbell and instantly memories flooded back. She remembered coming here as a new bride. William showing her everything that he thought she'd like. She told him that she didn't like Boston, but she did. The quaintness of Beacon Hill with it's cobblestone sidewalks and old-fashioned gas lanterns that still lit the streets. Most of it reminded her of London -- narrow roads, absolutely no parking and college students everywhere.
Christopher came to the door, and his appearance simply took her breath away. He was just as handsome, and maybe even more so than his father. He still had that boyish look to him. He greeted her warily at the door.
"Mrs. Yukimota, hello." He smiled to her.
"Please, call me Spring, it is preferred. May I come in?" He opened the door all the way and invited her in. She immediately headed into the living room. He found it quite humorous that she knew her way around. He still had a hard time realizing that his father had been married to her before his mother. "Can I get you anything? A drink, perhaps, or some food?"
"No. No, I am quite well off. I've just come to talk and explain."
"Mrs… Spring, you don't need to explain. It really doesn't concern me what happened, it was a long time ago."
"I think you misunderstand me. I meant about Julia."
He gave her a nervous glance, and she tried to quell his fears. "You seem to really love my daughter?" he nodded his head. "She seems to love you very much too." He smiled. "You don't mind if I call you Christopher?"
"Not at all, please do."
"Christopher, I love my daughter very, very much. She and my son mean more to me than any other person or thing on this earth. Julia's happiness is very important to me. I want her to be happy, and I think you can make her happy. But I also think that your family can break her heart. She may appear strong, Christopher, but she can be very, very vulnerable. You know that your father will tell you to break it off with her. Please, let me finish. You appear to have some of your mother's bullheadedness, and I find that very admirable. But will it be enough to make your case against your father? Will you be able to explain to him that the decision you make is final regarding my daughter? Are you prepared to give up everything for her?"
Christopher got up and paced back and forth in front of the fireplace. He soaked everything in, and in turning to her, realized that regardless of what took place with regards to his family, Spring would always be there to fight for her daughter. He admired her for that. But he also knew that his family would fight for his happiness too.
He smiled to her quite broadly, "Yes."
"So it is done. You will go against the wishes of your family for the happiness of my daughter?"
"I can deal with my family. Julia is very special to me, I would not willingly do anything to hurt her. I do promise you that."
"Thank you, Christopher. I was prepared to have her come back to San Diego with me. But I do know she'd put up a big fight going away from you. She did manage to tell me that you two didn't quite hit it off when you first met. She thought you were a spoiled rich boy who had a libido bigger than China."
"She said that?" his eyes were wide with shock.
"We talk, Christopher. Treat her with respect, love and appreciate her, and she will give you so much in return."
"I know." He said softly.
Spring arose to leave, but before she did, she turned back to him. "Why haven't you redecorated?"
"I'll let Julia do that." he smiled to her.
Int. Davio's, Newbury Street
Julia felt so relaxed after the manicure and pedicure, that now she was ready for the facial, if she didn't fall asleep first. The beauty expert kept commenting on her skin, and likening it to fine porcelain. She would roll her eyes from time to time. She had already picked out a dress and the underclothing. She had one more thing that needed to be done, and then she would be ready. She only hoped he appreciated it. The first day passed by quite quickly. She counted down the time that she would see him.
Julia arrived home in the late afternoon and was happy to see her mother, who seemed shocked by the transformation her daughter had gone through.
"I'm glad you're back, Julia. I've changed my flight to later tonight. Masa is missing me, and asked if I'd leave a day earlier."
"But mamma, we've spent nearly no time together."
"We have. You need to spend time with your Mr. Darcy. Go to him tonight, Julia." She leaned forward and kissed her brow. "He will make you very happy. You look very beautiful, darling." Julia smiled to her mother.
"I love you, mamma."
Int. Christopher Darcy's Townhouse
Julia stood at the front door at nine p.m. waiting for him to answer, she hadn't called and wanted to surprise him. He opened the door and was indeed in for a shock. She quickly pushed him back into his townhouse and kissed him.
"I am all yours tonight." She said huskily.
"And that is why you are dressed as a secret agent women?" She remembered that she had scarf covering her head, and long raincoat on.
"Ah, I have a surprise for you." Her eyes gleamed with mystery. She flashed him a quick view of her leg, and then quickly closed the coat again. She walked into the other room, telling him to meet her in the living room. He did as asked. She took scarf off her head, and shook her hair to let it fall into place. She removed coat to show dress.
Christopher planted himself down on the sofa and waited for his surprise. Quietly she came into the living room, and stood before him and then spun around. He caught a glimpse of what was on underneath the dress. He stared at her transfixed.
"Well?" she said anxiously.
"You've cut your hair." He said just a little bit shocked.
"Yes?" she pushed on.
"It's incredible, I mean, it… I love it." He got up and ran his fingers through her layers. She opted for a modern, chic, short cut, no bangs, just wisps. "It absolutely compliments your beautiful face." She fell into his willing arms and kissed him.
"But there are more surprises, I am definitely yours tonight. My mother left."
"So, what do you say we do, then?"
"A little dinner, a little dancing."
"Perfect, give me twenty minutes to try and look as good as you do." He smiled.
End of Scene I
Act VII Scene II
Int. Mistrals, Boylston Street, Boston, MA
Christopher pulled out Julia's seat and gently pushed her in. The amazed look on her face when she saw the single pink rose garnish the china, brought a huge smile to his face. His father had been smooth when he told him that trick. He said it drove his mother positively wild and now understood exactly what he meant. Julia looked around the room to see if all the plates were garnished with flowers.
"How did you manage this?" she asked, while admiring the flower.
"Uh-unh, this is my secret, I'll never tell." She quirked an amused eyebrow at him. Christopher smiled at her, then poured her a glass of champagne. She took a sip and laughed when the bubbles tickled her nose. He looked at her thoughtfully, and she knitted her brows trying to figure out what was going on in that brain of his.
"What are you thinking, Chris?"
"Your skin."
"My skin?" she asked confused.
"Yes, and how much I can't wait to touch it." He moved his hand to her arm and lightly touched her. She felt her face grow hot and took another sip of the champagne.
"Do you do that to every woman?"
"No." he said seriously. "I've never felt this way about anyone before."
"Tell me how you feel." She asked demurely.
"How I feel…I feel light and free. I feel as if I had been searching for something for so long and couldn't quite grasp at it. That it eluded me for so long, but when I'm with you, I don't feel that way at all. I feel whole and complete. I feel happy."
"Are you happy? I mean it hasn't been long, and we haven't exactly…"
"Are you nervous?" he asked her gently. He was feeling the nerves in his stomach and wasn't sure what it was. He never felt nervous around a woman before and it took him by surprise. Julia nodded her head slightly, and he smiled. He explained that he was scared as hell.
Julia found herself wanting to touch him and did so when she had the chance. She would inch her fingers across the table to his hand and entwine her fingers with his. The second time she did it he refused to give her hand back to her and placed it to his lips. She took another sip of the champagne and felt the power of it go to her head. Julia's face was brilliantly illuminated by the candles on the table, and Chris found it difficult to not lean over the table and gently bring her face to his. She closed her eyes and heard him whisper his love. A lone tear fell from her eye and he caught it before it trickled down her cheek.
"Don't cry, Julia. I do love you, very much."
"I think of your parents and how they will react." Christopher moved his seat closer to her and embraced her.
"Nothing will take me from you. I told you that I have finally found the happiness that I've sought for so long. You are that happiness, Julia. You and only you."
During dinner, Chris asked her the important question.
"Move in with you?"
"How will it feel living with Natalie, knowing that you and I are involved with each other?"
"Well, Chris. You did set yourself up with that one. If only your…"
"Libido the size of China didn't get in the way?"
She looked at him with bright, big eyes. "Mother told you?"
He laughed and nodded his head. "We had a wonderful conversation. What happened in the past, is just that past, history. I don't hold anything against her. She has a beautiful, wonderful daughter that I happen to be madly in love with."
"Madly, Chris?"
"Julia, say yes. Say yes you will live with me." He looked hopeful.
"Yes. I will live with you."
Before ordering desert, he applied to her for their first dance together. She thought the dance was too fast and asked for a slower song. Chris disappeared for a moment then came back with a big grin on his face.
"What did you do?" she asked warily.
"Nothing." He smiled again. After several minutes of the fast song, the music to a slow song came on. And over the mike came:
"This is for Julia, his angel."
"Chris!" she whispered to him as he led her to the floor.
Spend all your time waiting for that second chance
For the break that will make it OK
There's always some reason to feel not good enough
And it's hard at the end of the day
I need some distraction or a beautiful release
Memories seep from my veins
Let me be empty and weightless and maybe
I'll find some peace tonight
He slowly moved her around the floor, holding her tightly in his arms murmuring over and over again how much she meant to him. She felt herself go limp in his arms as if she couldn't continue on with the dance. She closed her eyes and listened to the music as his groping hands wandered up and down her body.
In the arms of the Angel far away from here
From this dark, cold hotel room, and the endlessness that you feel
You are pulled from the wreckage of your silent reverie
You're in the arms of the Angel; may you find some comfort here.
His wandering hands traveled from her neck up into her hair, then back down her back and to her side until he found the spot with his lips that made her moan in delight. The spot between at the base of her neck before connecting to her breast bone. She begged him to continue. His hand continued traveling down to the small of her back, where he pulled her closer to him. Her eyes closed, she felt her head spinning with desire, spinning with want and spinning with what she would experience.
So tired of the straight line, and everywhere you turn
There's vultures and thieves at your back
The storm keeps on twisting, you keep on building the lies
That you make up for all that you lack
It don't make no difference, escape one last time
It's easier to believe
In this sweet madness, oh this glorious sadness
That brings me to my knees
"Julia, will you be mine forever?" he whispered.
"Yes, forever." She whispered back.
In the arms of the Angel far away from here
From this dark, cold hotel room, and the endlessness that you feel
You are pulled from the wreckage of your silent reverie
You're in the arms of the Angel; may you find some comfort here.
"What have you on underneath." He smiled.
"It's a surprise." She was enthralled by him and wanted him. "Forget desert. Let's go home, now." She said hotly, quickly and suggestively.
You're in the arms of the Angel; may you find some comfort here.
Christopher drove home maniacally, but got there within ten minutes. Helping Julia out of the car, he fumbled in his pockets for his house keys. He smiled sheepishly at her as she tried to keep in her laughter. As soon as he did get the door open, Julia flung her coat to the floor and attacked him. Unbuttoning his coat and his shirt.
"Where's the fire, Julia?"
"It has to be now. Right now."
"No. Not right now. Come into the living room." He caught the shocked look on her face as he walked into the living room. She stayed in the hallway wondering what sort of joke this was. "Julia?" he called softly. "Julia?" he called again. This time she walked into the living room. Soft classical music played softly in the background. She saw more champagne chilling in the corner, and Chris starting a fire in the fireplace. He sat on the floor with his back to her, but turned his head, flashed his deadly dimpled smile and encouraged her to sit beside him. "We are in no rush, darling." He had set on the floor mounds of pillows and blankets.
Before sitting down, she took off her shoe and tossed it behind her and did the same with the other one. She leaned back against the pillow and closed her eyes. She felt a wayward hand going slowly up her left leg and working itself up to pull down the thigh stocking she had on. She sighed even more contentedly when the same hand went to the other leg and pulled down the other stocking. She opened her eyes and saw the look that she knew she'd had just a few moments ago.
Throughout Ravel's Bolero, he taunted and tortured her with the slowness of removing her clothes. Slowly touching her skin and placing small kisses wherever his hand was. His surprise was great indeed when he saw that nothing came between her and her dress. For sixteen minutes, he drove her crazy with his want and his passion for her.
Barber's Adagio for Strings started slowly and the two of them became lost in the beautiful strains of the music. As the adagio reached its final crescendo, all that could be heard was Christopher calling out, "Julia."
End of Scene II
Act VII Scene III
Int. Christopher Darcy's Townhouse
Julia stared at his sleeping figure soaking everything in. She was terribly, horribly, crazily, madly in love with him. She hugged her knees closer to herself and gazed into the fire. He had been wonderful. Before all she had were her dreams, but tonight she'd had him, and her heart felt as if it would burst with the fullness it felt. She did think him very sly, turning the tables on her. Making her attack him and his telling her that they had time. Smooth. She looked at the rose sitting on the table behind her and started to get up to put it in some water, when Christopher's arm pulled at her leg.
"Where do you think you're going?"
She sat back down beside him and rubbed his arm. "I was going to put the rose in water so it didn't die. I wanted to be able to enjoy it."
"I need to ask you something." He said sleepily.
"What?" she whispered into his ear.
"My family. I want you to meet them. Now don't go all distracted on me. My sister is getting married in December, and I want you to accompany me to the wedding."
"Oh."
He sat up and wrapped her in his arms. "Julia, they won't care about who you are. You are not your mother and what happened was a long time ago. A very long time ago."
"Why are you being so optimistic? My mother practically destroyed your mother, and tried to blackmail your father."
"My father had no right to withhold his financial situation from her. Julia, my sister is getting married, their minds are going to be on that and not who you were beget by. Now will you accompany me or not?"
"I would like to meet your sister." She looked into his eyes for a long time. He pleaded and begged with just his looks to her. "I will go, Christopher, but I cannot stay with you at your home. I will stay in a hotel."
"I'll stay with you. By the way, this marriage." He said nonchalantly. "It will be quite the lavish affair. My sister is marrying into the royal family."
"She is?" Julia said with big wide eyes.
"Now, don't start getting thoughts in that head of yours. Most likely I'll be banished from her kingdom." He laughed and sat up quickly. Julia's eyes roved down to his chest that simply amazed her. He caught her glance and pulled her extremely close to him. She fingered his chin.
"Why would you be banished from her kingdom?" She said now tracing his cheek.
She move her hand to behind his neck and started rubbing the back of his neck. His sighed with delight. "I punched out his royal highness." She abruptly stopped and stared at him in shock.
"I know that this is really a stupid question and there is probably a stupid answer, but why?"
"He hurt my sister." He said sharply, not directed at Julia, just at the thought of Colin playing games with Kimberley.
"Hmm… an older brother who actually cares for his sister." She said jokingly. "I know, I adore my brother. If anyone ever dared to hurt him, I'd kill them."
"Ah, so we have the same sort of tempers?"
"I can pack a good punch when need be." She said seriously.
"Me too." He pulled her down to him and kissed her.
"Christopher, the flower."
"I'll get you another one." He said abruptly and took care of it so that she didn't have to answer him back.
Int. Kimberley Darcy Flat
Colin sat watching Kimberley as she looked through samples of cloths for the bedding she wanted to order. He watched as she sighed, pushed the hair out of her face, made funny faces at different swatches and chewed on a helpless pencil. He started laughing and got her attention.
"And what is so funny, sir?"
"You are, Kim." She shot him a glance and turned her attention back to the swatches. "Oh don't get all cold and brutal on me."
"You could at least help me, Colin. I'm doing this for your comfort."
He got up and walked over to her. "Kim, I am a prince and you will be a princess. We will have everything we need. We can hire people to do this for us. All I want for you right now is to enjoy the time we have before the wedding completely takes up our lives."
"Colin, this wedding is our lives. I want everything to be perfect."
He smiled gently to her. "And it will be. That is what we have a planners for. Let them handle everything. Come on, lets go out." She looked at him resignedly and agreed.
He took her to the British Museum and the two of them were able to be incognito for just a little while and they enjoyed it immensely. Until one lady came up to Colin and demanded that he have his picture taken with her very pretty daughter. Kim wrapped her arm tighter around his waist, indicating to the woman that she should also be part of the package, but no, she only wanted Colin.
Colin agreed and watched as Kim stalked off to another room in the museum. Kimberley tried to fight back the urge to cry. She knew that he would be mad at her childish behavior just then. But all of a sudden, it suddenly came into focus what sort of life she was getting involved in. And it scared the hell out of her. She found a marble bench and sat down waiting for Colin to find her. When he finally made it away from the woman and her pretty daughter he rushed to Kimberley's side.
The smile that she gave him made his heart break just a little. He sat down beside her sighing heavily. He saw the look in her face. The look that said to him second thoughts.
"It will get easier with time, Kim. People will realize that you and I are husband and wife. However, right now, I am Prince Colin, eligible bachelor."
"No, you're not." She held her ring finger up. "This tells everyone that we are one. That you are mine."
He lightly brushed her lips and wiped the tears from her face. "We are one, and I am yours, completely yours, Kimberley Darcy." He took her hands in his. The woman who had just snagged him for photo shoot witnessed the transaction between the two and made a choice remark to her daughter. "Don't let it bother you. She is a rude, crass woman. I love you, Miss Darcy, just you and only you."
"Can we leave, please. I can't stay here knowing that she is still here."
He smiled and agreed. "Come back to my place, Kim. Stay there with me tonight." She nodded her head, grabbed his hand and the two left the museum.
End of Scene III
Act VII Scene IV
Int. Heathrow Airport, London, England
December 2014
"Before we head to Derbyshire, why don't we stay a couple of days in London? You can meet my sister and His Royal Highness." He said the last part contemptuously.
Julia noticed the coolness and decided that it would be best not to question his hatred of Colin Parker.
Colin had his arm tightly woven around Kimberley's waist and teased her unmercilously as she waited with bated breath for Julia and Chris. Colin poked fun of his tussle with Chris months ago when her brother socked him in the face. He just wanted to make sure that there was enough ice in the ice chest.
"He will not lay a finger on you because of the wrath he would endure from me. Colin, he will not hit you -- Ever." She smiled and lightly patted his face. "Ah, here they come."
Christopher beamed a big smile at his sister as she came running down the stairs to greet him. Before he could help Julia out of the car, Kimberley was squealing in his ear and up in his arms. He spun her around, commenting on her thinness with cool reproofs. "Aren't you feeding her, your highness." He said somewhat tightly and glared at him unmercilously.
"She eats well enough." He said nervously.
Kimberley rolled her eyes at the exchange. "Are you going to keep that woman languishing in the back seat of the taxi?" Julia stuck her leg out, then Chris took her hand and helped her out.
"Kim, this is Julia Wolcott. Julia, my sister." Both women regarded each other cheerily. Both men took the luggage and walked it into the Townhouse. Once inside, Kim poured glasses of red wine and thrust it at her guests.
"This is wonderful, Chris. I'm so glad you've stopped here before home. Mummy and daddy are just horrid lately. Daddy can't seem to get over that I'm getting married, and mummy is beside herself being mum to a princess. They are driving us, " she turned to Colin, "crazy. His mother isn't nearly as bad. I can't tell you how many times I've left here to stop at Colin's for the evening because mother rings every five bloody minutes."
"Well it could be worse, Kim. But as I have absolutely nothing brilliant to say, I will take a sip of this wine and you can tell me what you have been doing with yourself since I last saw you."
Julia smiled to Chris and moved in tighter into his embrace. Kimberley gave a pointed look to Colin, that told him that she was glad that her brother had finally found some peace with a woman. Kim noticed his abruptness when talking to Colin, or when he actually deigned to talk to him.
Julia asked Colin how getting married would affect the heritage of the royal line, and he in return explained to her what would be expected of Kim. As he was not in line for the throne, he was let off the hook, albeit not by much. Kim would take the title of Duchess and he would become Duke of a very tiny spot in the English landscape. Christopher lightly cuffed Kim's arm when he heard about Kim becoming a Duchess and at the tender age of twenty-two. Colin then asked Julia about the royal family in Japan, although not as interesting as the British monarchy, she told tales of historical battles.
"Dear brother, would you help in the kitchen, or because you are in love do you not do that sort of stuff anymore?"
"Ha! This is coming from the woman who is to be a Duchess. I would have expected you to have footmen and maids carousing in and out of this tiny flat!"
Kimberley shot him a brilliant look and pulled him into the other room. She cornered him once they were in the kitchen. "Well dear brother, it certainly is serious between you and geisha girl, Julia."
"She's not a geisha girl." He said sharply.
Kimberley stared at him and wondered at the response and tried to figure out why it bothered him so much. "Whatever, Chris. She is very lovely."
He looked absently at her.
"Okay, what's the problem, dear brother?"
"Are you sure you want to marry him?"
She turned to him in annoyance and sighed loudly. She didn't know what was going through him and didn't feel like dealing with the reasons why she was getting married. "So is it terribly serious between you and Julia."
He laughed and shook his head. "No, Kimberley. You will answer my question first. Are you sure you want to marry him?" he demanded.
"Yes. Of course. I love him."
"How much do you love him?" he pressed on.
"What sort of interrogation is this. You are here to attend my wedding. Why are you acting like this?"
He faced her and wrapped his arms around her shoulders. "Because I think you are better than him." She broke from his embrace angrily.
"What do you know about him. Because you hit him, you think you are better than him? I have to deal with daddy and mummy, I will not deal with you." She said dangerously. "If you prefer to leave, then just do so. I will marry him, and I will become a princess!"
"Titles mean nothing, Kim. You'll lose your soul in the process." He came closer to her. "You are a Darcy and you must maintain a certain air about yourself. Don't ever forget it."
"What the hell do you know about souls! You, who screwed every female blonde on two damn continents!"
Colin came into the kitchen. "What the hell is going on in here?" Christopher looked at Colin with as much contempt as he could muster. "I said again, what the hell are you doing to her?"
Chris stalked up to Colin and smiled, ominously: "You do one thing to hurt her, I'll kill you."
Julia entered the kitchen and pulled Christopher aside. "What are you doing?" she asked him angrily. She couldn't believe his behavior towards the prince. "He is marrying your sister, the least you can do is be civil to him."
"I don't like him, Julia. I've made no pretenses that I have. He uses my sister for one reason or another. I don't sense any sincerity."
"The sincerity is lacking from your sister." She said sharply. "He is her ticket to fame. I think you have your ideals messed up."
Julia walked away and headed into back into the living room. Colin had left Kim in the kitchen to get together the appetizers. Chris sulked throughout the light meal and then through dinner. Not until he was in his hotel room with Julia did he attempt an apology.
"Chris, your whole attitude was horrible. She is marrying him, and you can't do one damn thing to stop it. And stop using that Darcy name as a crutch. I thought that Chris died a long time ago." He tried to pull her into an embrace, but she refused his arms.
He left her alone. For the night.
Int. Pemberley
The phone rang for five minutes straight until Will leaned over and picked it up. He barked into it. "What!"
"Hi, dad." Chris said sheepishly on the other end.
"Chris, why are you phoning at this hour?"
"I need some help." William sat up and arranged his pillow. Elizabeth was sound asleep right beside him.
"What, sort of help?"
"I'm in jail."
"What!" he could barely contain his emotions. Elizabeth stirred beside him and turned on the light on her side of the bed.
"What's wrong, Will?"
"How the hell did you end up in jail!" William jumped out of bed pacing with the phone in his hand.
Elizabeth looked at her husband, "Who's in jail?"
"Your damn son." Will said angrily.
"Good God! What did he do?"
William turned his attention to the phone. "Tell me why I have to come to London right now and bail you out; and it better be a damn good reason."
Chris sighed. "I can always phone Julia, but I don't think she'll bail me again." He cringed when he realized what he had just said.
"Again!" William became threateningly dangerous. "Maybe you should stay there for the night. You sound drunk!"
"William, you must get your son." Elizabeth said imploringly. "He is your son and if the papers get hold of the information it could prove disastrous to Kim. She is getting married in two weeks."
"I will be there in two hours, Chris. You'd better call Julia. You are coming back to Pemberley with your mother and myself." William hung up the phone and swore loudly. "What the hell happened to him? You nurtured him too much." He turned on Elizabeth.
"Don't put the blame on me now. He's as much your responsibility as mine. Was he arrested before?"
William refused to answer the question. He just kept muttering, "Damn fool."
End of Scene IV
Act VII Scene V
Int. Claridge Hotel
Julia was awaken by pounding at the door. She ran to it and saw Chris standing in front of her bloody and dirty.
"What happened?" she asked him visibly upset. William Darcy pushed his way into the room and stared at a very skimpily dressed Julia.
"Put on clothes, we are going to Derbyshire." William said quickly.
She gave him a challenging look. "Why am I going to Derbyshire?" she walked to Christopher and stroked his cheek. "Did you get into a fight?" He nodded his head and looked away.
"I'm sorry, Julia." Was all Christopher managed to say. She shot a look to William, then looked down at the filmy peignoir she had on and suddenly became modest.
"Let me go throw on some clothes and we can discuss this rationally." She left the room.
William turned to Chris. "At least she has a good head on her shoulders." Chris was swaying from all the alcohol he had ingested. William led him to a chair. "She's very beautiful too, but do you deserve her? Absolutely not!"
Chris put his head in his hands. "I know, I don't deserve an angel like her."
"What the hell were you thinking getting into a bar brawl! You have one fight with a woman and you find solace in the bottle?" William did feel like slapping him. "Your sister is getting married into the royal family and you could ruin any chance she has."
Chris had one moment of clarity. "She's a damn fool, for marrying that prince." He spat out the last word.
Julia came out of the bedroom wearing old faded jeans and a Boston College sweatshirt. Chris turned to her and smiled. "Hi, baby." He tried to walk to her to give her a kiss, but stumbled too much.
"How much did you have to drink." She questioned harshly.
"Just a little." He tipped over and both Julia and William helped him up.
When they had Christopher in the chair, Julia stuck her hand out for William. "Hi, Julia. Sorry to meet you under these circumstances."
William took her hand and shook it too, with a laugh. "Me too. Not a good way to start out."
Suddenly, everything became focused to Julia and she realized just who she had been talking too. Chris started mumbling something in his drunken stupor.
"Chris, what are you trying to say?" Julia asked angrily.
Both William and Julia heard a faint. "I love you."
Julia looked to Will. "Do you mind if I take him into the bedroom, I don't think we are going anywhere tonight? I do have trundle bed that I could put you on."
William gave her a small smile. "That's fine. Take him. Will you come out when you have him settled?"
Julia smiled to him. "Sure."
Julia helped Christopher into the bed. He tried to pull her into an embrace. "Jules, I loves you soomush. I can't evers loose you, know that, baby."
"Christopher," she said through a haze of tears, "what am I to do with you?" She placed a kiss on his bloody lip and tucked him snugly in.
Julia headed out to the living room and saw that William had poured himself a drink from the minibar. He gestured to her to have a seat. "Can you tell me what sort of fight you had to get him so riled up?"
"He had an argument with Kimberley. He hates Colin and wants her to be with someone who trusts and respects her. He doesn't think Colin does."
"He's not the only one."
Julia looked at him oddly and thought that she really shouldn't get involved. "It's not Colin, sir. Kimberley is a very spoiled person, she takes and takes but gives nothing. Colin is very much in love with her, but discerning any love from her was difficult."
William drained his drink and poured another one. "Do you love Christopher?"
"I do, very much. But it's getting difficult with him. His temper is violent." William turned to her with a questioning look. "He's never laid a hand on me. And I don't think he ever would. But it's always there."
"He mentioned that you bailed him out before. Can you tell me the particulars?"
She looked at her lap. "Me." She said quietly.
"What?"
She smiled at him. "He realized he loved me and went on a bender. Got into another bar brawl. At the time he was seeing my roommate. I got the message before her and bailed him out."
William closed his eyes. "His mother is a nervous wreck. I should call her." Julia gestured to the phone.
"It's been a late night, sir. I will see you in the morning?"
He gave her a fatherly kiss on the cheek. "What are you planning on doing with him?"
Julia looked unsure at him. "I don't know."
End of Scene V
Act VII Scene VI
Int. Kimberley Darcy's Flat
Colin cradled Kim in his arms as she went over the scene with her brother. He didn't know how she felt about Colin, and she did love him. More than anything on God's great earth. Just the warmth of his arms lulled her and made her feel wanted. She would not let him go. His being part of the royal family meant nothing to her. If he had been a commoner on the road, she would have fallen in love with him. Why couldn't she explain that to her family? Colin stroked her softly and murmured in her ear all the sweet nothings that she had come to love.
Colin had not expected Chris to hold a grudge for so long. And considering that he barely knew him, it did take him by surprise. Colin pulled Kim closer when he noticed her body shaking from the sobbing. He never felt as much love for a person as he did for her right then.
"Kim, what exactly did your brother mean about your not loving me?" he broached the subject cautiously.
She wiped tears from her face and looked at him seriously. "Colin, I do love you. I love you more than anything right now. I may not always show it, and I may always come across as a stubborn person, but my love for you will always be constant. Ignore my family and just believe me." She rolled on top of him. "Colin, you make me a better person. I will always love you for that."
He brushed his lips against her neck and undid her nightgown. She slid under him and smiled. "I want to believe you love me, Kimberley." He said pressed up against her neck.
"Colin, if you were not in my life right now, there would be big a void where my heart is. Don't let Chris bother you. He has issues that he has to deal with. I only hope that Julia is the person who is willing to put up with him."
"I liked her. Very level-headed person."
"That she was. Colin, I love my brother, and he may not be the easiest person to get to know, but please do this for me and forgive him." She took her hand and rubbed his chest in a suggestive manner. Colin lowered his lips to hers and kissed her.
"I will never leave you, Kim. Never."
She gave him feathery kisses and gave herself to him.
Claridges Hotel
Christopher rolled over onto Julia and hugged her tightly. He tried to open his eyes, but the residual of the alcohol made it nearly impossible. The sunlight made his head pound even more worse, and he groaned in pain. Julia sat up lazily and gently laughed.
"You should have a headache." She moved in closer to him. "What were you thinking of Chris?"
He put the pillow on his face and started talking. "It wasn't my fault. I was sitting at the pub, minding my bloody business and again this hooligan comes up to me. He asked if I was a Darcy, and I answered yes, then he bloody well hits me!"
Julia leaned heavily on his chest. "Fighting never solved anything, you should have left."
"I am not yellowback. I fight for my honor."
"What honor! He doesn't like the Darcy name, so what! You walk away. God, Christopher, how old are you anyway?"
"What does that mean?"
"It means grow up." They both heard movement in the outer room. "Your father. He stayed here last night."
"He did what?"
Julia looked strangely at him and quickly arose from the bed. "He wants us to go back to Derbyshire with him." She said nonchalantly.
"Does he know about you." She shook her head, then he took the pillow off his face. "I didn't see that, you know." He smiled. She walked over to him, kneeled at his side of the bed and put his face into her hands.
"Even with a broken face, you are beautiful. I love you, Christopher Darcy. But I will not deal with bailing you out of jail every six months!"
He rolled over and moved his hand behind her neck drawing her closer to him. He reeked and the dry blood was not inviting, but she didn't care. She loved him. "Julia, don't leave me, please. Don't even consider it." She moved her body up and over his and kissed him and stayed in that position until the knock on the door disturbed them.
William slowly opened the door and saw how peaceful Christopher looked in Julia's arms. He cleared his throat to get their attention. "We should have breakfast before heading up north. Chris, are you feeling better?"
Julia disentangled herself and stood up quickly, she blushed deeply when William walked in. "Chris, would you have a problem if I stole Julia for a moment?" Chris looked anxiously at his father. "Don't worry about it. We just need to make arrangements for her."
"She'll stay with me." He said decidedly.
"Chris, let me discuss this with your father. Why don't you take a long, hot shower. You definitely need one." Chris took her hand and kissed it.
"Julia, I love you." He said softly.
She leaned down to him. "I know you do. I love you too."
She headed to the outer room with William. He poured her a coffee that he had sent up for his son. "I take that you've made your decision regarding Chris." He handed her said coffee and went back to pour himself some.
"I really love Christopher. He is a good person. It's just jumbled up on him right now. There are some changes going on his life that he's having difficulty accepting. He younger sister's marriage is probably the hardest. I did want to add one more thing about your daughter that I said last night. Colin is very much in love with her. That I could see, although I could not discern whether or not she loved him. It would be rash to say that she didn't."
"I thank you for your insights. You think my daughter spoilt?"
She had to laugh, but saw the seriousness in his countenance. "Sorry. Kim grew up rich and pampered, as did Chris. They both need to adjust to certain social situations. I'm not rich, Mr. Darcy. Never pretended to be rich, I'm just myself."
He smiled at her. "I think you, young lady, are too wise for your years. Chris tells me that you go to Harvard. You must have some fairy Godmother that pays the bills."
Julia blanched and stumbled a bit. "My mother worked hard to put me and my brother through school. I owe it all to her."
"What about your father?" He sat down at the serving cart.
"My father died several years ago. My mother remarried and lives in Japan with her new husband."
"I'm sorry about your father. You were close?"
Tears sprung to her eyes. "Very close, Mr. Darcy. I was his world, and he was my world. His death was sudden and swift."
He walked over to her. "I didn't mean to upset you. I'm sorry."
She shook her head and smiled to him. "No. You are very sweet."
"Well you can tell us all about your mother when we get to Pemberley. I would love to hear how she put you and your brother through school."
Chris walked out of the bedroom looking more alive and pinkish in color. He gave a big, great smile to Julia.
"So what have you two been discussing?"
"You!" They both said simultaneously.
"And?"
"We've decided to keep you. The both of us." William said jokingly.
"Well that's a relief. I don't think I could go on another day without Julia." He winked at his father, and kissed Julia.
End of Scene VI
Act VII Scene VII
Westminster Abbey
Colin solemnly walked up the aisle with Kimberly at his side. His mother was speaking with the planners on where to seat people, royalty and commoners. The black and white tiled floor and massive overlays, made Kimberley look on in amazement. She always thought she'd get married at Pemberley's church.
Colin circled around the huge altar and gave a big grin to Kim. "I have a better idea." He said mysteriously.
She laughed at him. "What?"
"No. It will be a surprise, but you must do something for me first. Okay?"
She looked dumbstruck at him, trying to figure out what he meant. "Tell me first, then maybe I'll agree to it."
"You need to get a bag together with clothes, and all the toiletries that you need, we're going on a little trip. Don't bring nightclothes, I'll take care of that for you."
"Are we going away? So soon before the wedding?" He nodded his head.
"Tell them that you've come down with a sudden headache, and that you need to go to the flat. I'll meet you there in one hour." He gave her a brief kiss and walked out of the church.
Kimberley became dizzy if front of the Princess. She leaned against a railing for support. "Kim, you look horrendous, are you okay?"
"A bit of a headache, ma'am. I think I should go home and rest it off. I suffer with horrible migraines from time to time. A dark room and warm cloth on my head will make me feel better."
"Of course, darling. You take the car, the driver can come back for me after you've settled. Shall I tell Colin?"
"Oh yes, ma'am, please do."
Kimberley walked away thinking that was just way too easy. She settled back into the car and told the driver to take her home.
Colin was punctual as usual and quickly ushered Kim out of the flat. She was still confused as to the suddenness of this trip. When she questioned him, he begged off and told her to trust in him.
He looked deeply in her eyes, kissed her and told her that tonight was one night that she would never forget.
Pemberley
Elizabeth rushed out to greet the party that had just arrived. Julia held back so that mother, father and son could reunite, and Elizabeth could reprimand her son for his wild behavior. She gave a bright smile to Julia and kissed her soundly on the cheek.
"Oh, come in. Please it's freezing out here. I just received word that Kimberley is having another one of her migraine episodes." She turned to William. "I didn't know she had migraines?"
"You think the stress of the wedding is affecting her?" Will asked in a concerned manner. "I should have stopped by to see her."
"She wasn't home when I phoned." She said in annoyance.
"Did you try to ring Colin's flat?" he asked.
"No. She's probably fine, I'm just being an overprotective mom."
Christopher walked Julia through Pemberley, she seemed genuinely in awe of her surroundings. Elizabeth likened it to when she first came to Pemberley, all those years ago. And how she didn't ever want to leave. She looked closely at Julia to see if she would want to invade and stay here forever. She brushed off her moment of jealousy for the younger woman.
"Julia, you should find everything you need laid out in your chamber. Chris, you're in your old room." Elizabeth had that twinkle in her eye. She knew that Chris would be hard-pressed staying his room now that Julia was there, just like she didn't stay in the room the servants gave her twenty-three years ago. "Dinner will be served at 7.30pm. I encourage all of you to nap until the dinner bell, you all look exhausted." She shooed her son up the stairs with Julia, and tugged on her husband's arm, as she indicated to the Drawing room.
"What exactly happened with him, he looks awful."
William paced in front of her. "He got into a fight in a pub. Some drunk hooligan came up to him, and you know Chris, never one to back out of a fight."
"He has a face like an angel," she traced her husband's face, "but the countenance of the devil. What are we to do with him. If this got into the newspaper, poor Kim would have been humiliated."
"The royal family humiliate themselves more than any other creatures on this earth, I think they and Kim could deal with it." He poured himself a mineral water and offered one to his wife. "Julia seems to be exactly what he needs. She's strong, level-headed, and very much in love with him and vice-versa."
"You think she can calm him down? What is getting into him lately. Punching Colin, being arrested twice!"
William tried to stifle a yawn. "Love, can we discuss this later. I mistakenly stayed at the hotel on a trundle bed, I should have stayed at the townhouse." She gave him kiss and shooed him up to bed.
Julia watched as Chris gingerly took off his shirt, his upper torso was sore from being hauled into the police car. She came up behind and softly rubbed his back, working her way to his chest. The moan came from the bottom of his throat. She slowly turned him around and started kissing his neck, moving down slowly to his shoulder, then his chest, while pushing him back to the bed. She crawled on top of him and kissed him hungrily, wantingly. He rolled her onto her side and helped with her sweater. She moved her hands behind his neck and pulled him closer to her.
"Your skin drives me absolutely insane, Julia. I can't get enough of you." He covered her body with his.
"What about your parents?" she said realizing where she was. "This isn't a hotel."
"Walls here are thick. You could scream your head off, and they'd hear not one word." He smiled lewdly at her.
She laughed. "You think you can make me scream?"
He moved his hand suggestively around her stomach and strove to go lower. "Darling, I have."
Scotland
"What have ye to say."
"I will."
"and ye?"
Kimberley smiled at Colin as he took her hand and slipped the ring on her finger. "I will."
"Well you two are now married, God bless you, everyone."
Colin enveloped Kimberley into his arms. "Well Mrs. Parker, are you ready for the wedding night of your life?"
She nodded her head, then took his arm as he lead her out to the car. She couldn't believe that he would forgo his mother's plans for a big, national wedding and instead eloped in a small justice of the peace in Scotland. Kimberley got a case of the giggles in the car. He started giggling as it became infectious.
"What?"
"I can't wait to see the faces on the lot of them. They will be totally pissed!"
He took her hand and kissed it. "Kimberley, you are my life. I will protect you forever."
"How much longer to Balmoral?" She placed her hand on his thigh and massaged lovingly, causing him sit up straighter in the car.
"Oh," he said breathlessly, "at least two hours. Can you wait till then?"
Her eyes glistened in the moonlight. She leaned into him and gave him a kiss. He narrowly hit a car. "Perhaps it would be safer if you sat in the back seat, Mrs. Parker."
"But Mr. Parker, it is so lonely back there." She said coquettishly.
"Shall I pull the car over to the side of the road, Mrs. Parker? Is this how you want to remember your wedding night? In the back of a small sportscar, with the Prince of York?"
She nodded her head enthusiastically. "Oh yes, very much so."
"I think, Mrs. Parker, that waiting two hours would be more beneficial to the prize."
"Are you telling me that I must be patient if I want to be completely enthralled?"
He smiled. "Enthralled? Hmm, I like that word very much. Because sweetheart, we will be one together as man and wife, and I want everything perfect for you."
"Colin, I'm with you. Everything is perfect!"
End of Scene VII
Act VII Scene VIII (Honeymoon)
Balmoral Castle
The servants brought out chilled champagne and an assortment of exotic fruit and cheese into the library. As soft jazz music penetrated the castle walls, Kimberley looked more lovely than ever in Colin's eyes. She sat opposite him in a sheer, pale-blue, flowing nightgown. A gift from her husband. The way the candles illuminated the irises of her eyes, made Colin warm all over. Despite knowing that she would sit across from him til death do us part, he was in awe of the woman before him.
To Kimberley, her husband sitting across from her in long silk pajama bottoms, was enough to make her knees weak. His broad chest wanting to tempt her hand from gliding over it. She watched as the shadows of the candles flickered off his face, his eyes laughing and dancing. The extreme feeling of bliss they felt was so powerful that finding a voice to speak was too difficult, and they both found comfort in long gazing looks. However, Kimberley's foot had found his toes and she massaged him with it.
The servants were told beforehand to serve the food, then disappear for the rest of the evening. They would be in want of nothing. As no-one knew they were there, they did not have to worry about phones ringing or people showing up unexpectedly. Kimberley pulled the leaves off the strawberry and plunged it into the cream. She indicated for Colin to move his lips closer to the fruit. He slightly parted his lips, as she dangled the cream-covered fruit in front of his inviting lips. She tipped her chair closer to him, and watched as he received the treat in between his teeth.
She took the back of her hand and gently stroked his newly-shaven face. She continued on in the same manner, until the strawberries had been exhausted. He grabbed a plum and took a hungry bite into it. She watched the juice slowly dribble down his chin, and caught it with her finger. Next came the guava: she placed a piece of cheese on it, had him close his eyes and open his mouth. She got it part way in, when his lips pulled her fingers into his mouth. She moaned softly and closed her eyes. As his mouth finished with her fingers, he pulled her arm to him, placing small kisses on her arm up to her shoulder. Kimberley shuddered in absolute delight.
He snaked his way to the back of her neck where she let out a full guttural moan. The small kisses he gave her ignited every nerve ending in her body. She was inflamed. He moved to the other shoulder and continued giving her small kisses down her other arm, finishing up with taking her fingers back into his mouth. The room spun in excitement. With her free hand, she took a large sip of champagne hoping to quell the fire burning inside of her. He knew he had her right where he wanted her. Her eyes begged for mercy and resolution. With short feathery strokes, he worked on her side stopping at her hip. Her breathing became ragged and labored. She dared not open her eyes. Had she chanced to open her eyes, she would have seen her husband's eyes bespeaking a longing that he felt, yet would not act on, now.
Every touch caused her to quiver. Every pore reacted to his soft touch and velvet kisses. She felt the temperature in her body rise higher and higher. The champagne became useless to his sensory attacks. He slowly moved his hand down to her thigh. Gently rubbing the soft silk in circular motions, the moans became deeper and softer. Her fingers reached out and touched his chest, and she rubbed her fingers thrillingly around and up to his shoulders.
A low moan escaped from his lips as she worked her hands up and down his body. He maneuvered his fingers behind her neck and lifted her hair off her back. He pulled her close to him and finally kissed her wanting lips. After responding so ferociously to her lips, in one swift move, he swept her into his arms and proceeded to the bedroom.
Kimberley felt completely alive for the first time in her life. She now knew what it was like to be thoroughly satisfied, loved and wanted. Even though her parents always made her feel wanted, a husband gave so much more. She sighed contentedly and snuggled closer to Colin. He brushed her blonde hair away from her face and gave her an awkward kiss on the brow.
"I feel as though I've died and gone to heaven. You have made this a very memorable night." She turned over and pressed herself against him. "I would like to call my mother, and let her know that I am Mrs. Kimberley Parker."
"Tomorrow, you can call her. Tonight you are all mine." He smiled devilishly at her.
"Well aren't you being possessive, husband." She stuck her tongue at him, and he did what she thought he would, he descended upon her lips again.
"Princess Kimberley," he mumbled as he positioned himself more comfortably. "How do you feel about Italy, Australia, Hawaii and Ireland for your honeymoon trip?" he asked as he played with her wedding band.
"It all sounds so lovely. Colin, I do love the simpleness of the gold band."
"You deserve better than a gold band." He extricated himself and walked over to the armoire. He pulled out a maroon velvet carrying case and tugged on the box that was stuck inside. "My mother gave this to me two weeks ago to give to my bride on our wedding night, and so Kimberley, I present you with Queen Elizabeth's II wedding band. You will notice it has rubies and diamonds, it is a perfect match to your engagement ring. My mother inherited the ring after the death of her son, the king."
Kimberley slid the ring on her finger and marveled at the richness of color and brilliancy of the diamonds. The platinum band melted nicely with her skin tone. "Colin, this ring is gorgeous. I can't believe your mother wanted me to have this."
"Amazing as it sounds, Kim, my mother adores you. Now if only I could work on your father!" he said in mock angst.
"I can't wait to tell them our news. How surprised they shall be."
"Indeed they shall. Mother may still demand the church wedding at Westminster. She did invite nearly two thousand people!"
Kimberley watched Colin closely. "You know my birthday is in nine days."
He shot a sideward glance at her. "Yes, and…"
She nestled safe in his chest. "Oh nothing, just thought you'd like to know."
"I did know that, Kimberley. But I do have nine days to act on it. Christmas is in eight days…"
She laughed at him, then suddenly became serious. A cloudy look threatened her happiness. "Colin, you will love me forever, won't you?"
"Kimberley, until my last breath of air will I love you more than anything." He wrapped two protective arms around her suddenly shaking body. "God save the person, who threatens you." He quickly sat up taking her with him. "Don't question my love for you, because it will always be eternal." He said soothingly.
She nodded at him, fighting back tears that were threatening to spill out to her cheeks. "I think I had too much champagne, I'm becoming too emotional."
"God, Kimberley, you are absolutely beautiful. I don't think I've met anyone like you. From the moment I met you at your debutante ball, I knew we would marry. I always knew we'd be together." He whispered into her ear.
"I don't remember you. I was on cloud nine, and so many boys wanted to dance with me. And my father glared at each and every one of them. I'm surprised you didn't get the evil eye." She smiled lovingly at him
He laughed at her. "Aye, he did. His looks would have impaled me, had daggers shot through his eyes."
She took a deep breath, breathing in his scent. She could smell the commingled scent of her and him.
"Well Kimberley, have you been properly enthralled?"
She giggled at the word. "I think I could be enthralled again and again, and possibly again!"
"That, princess, sounds like something I know I can handle."
It was entirely possible that a baby was made that night.
End of Scene VIII