He grimaced. She knew he could deny her nothing when she looked at him that way. “Very well. But you shall have to do something for me in return.”
“Gladly,” she replied, and straightened as though he might be dispatching her on a mission. “What might that be?”
Darcy lowered his head to Elizabeth’s and captured her lips with his own. He pulled her close, waiting for her hands to tangle themselves in his hair and slide to the back of his neck. When they did, he swung her up into his arms and carried her to bed.
“This,” he said.
“Oh,” Elizabeth said languidly and reached up to stroke the side of his face with her hand. “It would be my pleasure, William.”
He smiled. It would indeed.
Darcy signed the contract in his usual tight, controlled hand. He carefully handed the document back to Gunderson, who sanded the page.
“I believe that is the last of it unless you wish me to prepare a lease,” the solicitor said, reaching for a ribbon to tie the packet of papers together.
“No,” Darcy replied, feeling some relief that the purchase had been completed and trepidation over how best to approach the next step. “Not at the present time.”
“Darcy!” came a booming voice from the doorway. “What do you do here?”
Darcy stood, surprised but unwilling to show it. “Uncle,” he said. “I am completing some business with Mr. Gunderson.” He knew that Lord Matlock used several solicitors, though he had not known Gunderson was one of them.
“Typical Darcy answer,” Henry said, as he moved around his father and into the room. He was wearing a green coat, rather a brighter shade than typical for a man’s garment. “Always so literal. Will you not tell us the substance of your business?”
“I beg your pardon?” Darcy asked, somewhat taken aback. “Since when do I share my financial dealings with you?”
“Boys,” the earl said sternly.
Gunderson had disappeared, no doubt a skill honed to avoid the scene of quarreling family members. Darcy knew if he called, his solicitor would return, but for now, he had what he required. He gathered the neatly tied stack of documents.
“What have you there?” the earl asked quietly. “Might it be the deed to Stodley Abbey near Rotherham?”
Darcy cocked his head to one side. “It might.”
“My solicitor has been viewing suitable properties for several months, and this is the closest one to Matlock. We would like to purchase it from you,” the earl said. “I intend to sign it over to Richard as a wedding gift.”
“There is no need, Uncle,” Darcy said politely. “It is already in my cousin’s name.”
“I told you, father,” Henry said seriously, though his eyes displayed a wicked sort of mirth. “He intends to show us up.”
“It is a small estate and has been sitting unoccupied for some time, but I agree that its location is ideal,” Darcy replied. “I made rather a bargain of it.”
Henry studied him for a moment. “Ah, you mean to keep Elizabeth and Miss Bennet close,” he said, wagging a finger at Darcy. “You are a wiser man than I thought, cousin.”
“I will do what I must to see to my wife’s happiness,” Darcy told his cousin smugly.
“William,” the earl added somberly before Henry could respond, “I am Richard’s father. He will not accept such a gift from you, but he will from me. Matlock has done very well these past few years, and the Earl of Wright wished to show his gratitude to Richard for his part in discovering those ruffians. Even had Henry not declared his intentions, I would have asked Richard not to return to the peninsula.”
The earl was not a man of many words, but he loved his sons—both of them. And he was correct. Fitz would accept such a gift from his father without protest.
“Very well,” Darcy agreed. “But I have already purchased the property. It would be a waste of time to undo it.” He handed the contract to his uncle. “Simply pay your solicitor to change my name to yours and offer it to my cousin.”
“Why, thank you,” Henry began to say, but Darcy cut him off.
“My more deserving cousin,” he said bluntly.
All three men laughed softly.
“I will pay you for the purchase, Darcy,” the earl said firmly. “It is my duty as his father and my privilege as well.”