A/N: This was my very first JAFF that I wrote, largely for myself. Looking back at it, today I would have turned this into a novel... expanding that time between the Royal Exhibit and the cold toes scene you're about to read. :) Perhaps one day I shall write it as a sequel... The Trouble with Soldiers. :)

-Elizabeth Ann West

Elizabeth's cold toes once more wiggled to find warmth in the covers.

"Good God woman, do you freeze them purposely to torment me so?" Fitzwilliam Darcy cried out, jerking his legs away from the frozen interloper. Listening to his young wife giggle was intoxicating. He decided to brave the cold and pull her body closer to his for a close snuggle. Sucking in his breath, he endured the adjustment as their skin melded and the two of them settled.

"I'm happy Richard is finally selling his commission. When will they be here again, next week or the week after?"

"The week after, my love. And it's only fitting since he has found his heiress." Darcy leaned in to plant soft kisses along Elizabeth's neck, trying to outlast his wife's ever reeling mind until he could distract her into something more pleasant than talking about the day. Instead, she laughed as his breath tickled.

"It doesn't count that he was already in love with Mary, and you made her an heiress by settling five thousand pounds on her!"

"She earned it, for meritorious service in aid of another." Allowing his fingers to roam, Darcy continued to find other ways to communicate his message to his wife.

"I asked Mrs. Reynolds to freshen the Green Suite for them. Do you think Mary and Richard will be pleased?"

Groaning, Darcy released his wife and rolled over to his back. He was frustrated at his failures to distract. "I'm sure whichever suite is the furthest from your mother will be amenable to Richard as he is just married and enjoying his honeymoon."

Elizabeth frowned. It was unfortunate that every member of her family, including the Bingleys who now counted her sister Jane amongst their number, was planning to visit Pemberley for the hunting season. Mary and Richard were finally to take their honeymoon trip to the Lakes, and then ending at the estate for a time of unknown duration.

The clock on the mantle across from the bed struck midnight, and Elizabeth sat up in bed. Her husband looked up at her with one eye open, and then quickly shut it to continue to feign sleep.

"Oh, wake up, Mr. Darcy. Or should I say, sir?"

Waiting a moment, he suddenly awoke and tackled his wife, ignoring her squeals, and pulled her to his chest. "Sir! Sir!" he said as he tickled and caressed until she begged him to stop.

Lightly, he kissed the top of her head and reflected for a moment on how eventful this day had been just one year earlier when he was thrown from his horse. Sadly, his favorite mount grew sick last winter and had to be put down, but without that animal's intelligence and his wife's kindness, he might not be in any condition for the happy life he led now.

Sensing her husband's dark thoughts, Elizabeth looked up at him with her chin resting on his rib cage.

"William, you never told me that horse's name. He died before I came to know him properly."

Darcy closed his eyes once more and squeezed his wife's form in affection. "Trouble. The horse's name was Trouble."

As the clock struck one in the morning, Elizabeth and Fitzwilliam Darcy exhausted from the fruits of loving one another slept soundly. Not with nightmares of snake attacks or Wickham's schemes, but with happy visions of a future full of love, family, and the good sense to never ride out alone again.

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