Posted on Saturday, 11 October 2003
Will you be my Valentine?
I know that I am yours.
You are like a tossing sea
And I am like your shores.
You are like an endless wave
And I your waiting sand.
And I will wait forever as
You come and smooth my hand.
I will wait forever, yet
You are a part of me.
I hold you in my arms, while you
Come to me endlessly.
Will you be my Valentine?
I know that I am yours.
I love you with a love that yearns
To be your golden shores.
(Nicholas Gordon)
Heavy drops of rain were flowing down the window panes glistening in the light of a few candles. Elizabeth Darcy, wife of Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy, was waiting for her husband to return home. For in her heart she knew that he would return for this special day despite muddy streets, blowing winds and icy temperature. The blizzard was going on for hours now and there was no end in sight. At the sound of the door opening behind her she jumped but it was only Georgiana with another candle.
"I thought you might need another one..." the blonde beauty spoke softly.
Elizabeth accepted the candle and thanked her with a smile.
"He will come home tonight!" she uttered yet again.
Georgiana embraced her from behind and hugged her for a quiet moment.
"Of course he will. He promised, remember?"
Georgiana left the room as quietly as she had entered it. Enjoying her peaceful moment of solitude Elizabeth wrapped herself in a blanket and sat down in a comfortable chair close to the warm chimney. The book she had intended to read fell down after a few pages... Her slumber was peaceful and full of memories...
"Promise me you'll be back for Valentine's day!" Her words were urgent.
His arms around her waist, his breath touching the skin on her face, the scent of his cologne pleasing her nostrils... Never in her life had she thought it possible to depend on her person like she did to him. Leaving her for several months to go abroad because one of his relatives in Europe was terminally ill he had made her stay home because of her delicate condition. Being big with child was the only reason for her not to follow him and be near him in the time of mourning.
"I promise, I shall be here for this magical day!"
It had been on Valentine's day that she had told him that their first child was to be born, it had on Valentine's day that he had brought her flowers for the first time and it had been on Valentine's day when their baby girl had spoken her first word.
Ma...
And yet another most important event would take place on Valentine's day: Meeting the baby boy that was named after him. In all her letters she had concealed the sex of the baby not wanting to miss the look on his face when she told him that they had a little boy.
Soon other images took shape in her dream. Their walk home after his proposal, their first kiss in the carriage, their ride home to Pemberley and the special night among candles, romantic poetry and the culmination of there love in becoming one in both body and spirit.
Anne Elizabeth's first smile, her sitting up for the first and time and of course her first shaky steps on the carpet in Mr. Darcy's study were part of her memories most cherished and dearest to her heart.
And how her husband had asked her to be her Valentine for the very first time....
"Be my Valentine, for I
Each day have thought of you.
My whole life couldn't manage what
Your ready smile can do,
Vanquishing my loneliness
As though all light were new.
Let me be your Valentine
Even as you're mine,
Needing what I have to give
That each might each define
In friendship and in harmony,
Now you, now I the melody,
Each helping each to shine."*
When she awoke she was confused for she didn't remember lying down on their bed... But gazing around herself she saw burning candles, red roses and petals of roses covering the linens. Gentle music could be heard from downstairs and when she sat up she could see someone by her side, sleeping in a chair. Her heart leapt at the sight of him, she had to cover her mouth so not to disturb his sleep. But hearing her stir he awoke and pulled her in a passionate embrace.
"You're here... and it's still Valentine's day!"
He smirked in mock offense.
"Of course! I promised, remember?"
She sealed his mouth with a kiss.
"And indeed it would be a shame to be anywhere else if you have such passion close to your heart!"
Now it was her turn to tease him.
"Mr. Darcy, do you mean to imply that you don't nurture the same passion as I do?"
"Touché!" he gave in.
"Will you come and see our baby?"
"You already know the answer to that!"
Following her to the nursery he chuckled imagining her face at his surprise. The second crib was right next to Anne Elizabeth's for the siblings were inseparable.
"He's beautiful!" Darcy couldn't take his eyes off the infant.
"How do you know that it's boy?" Elizabeth asked with a smile.
"Because you just told me!" he triumphed and hardly escaped her poking him in mock offense.
"Hush!" he grinned. "Will you come downstairs with me and see my surprise?"
She simply gave him her hand and followed him.
The ballroom was shining in the light of what seemed a million candles. A little orchestra was playing dances discreetly, the entire room was empty except for a table with champagne and strawberries, Elizabeth's favourites.
"Madam, how many dances have you saved for me?"
"All of them!" she answered breathlessly.
"My surprise wasn't nearly as grand as yours but..."
Elizabeth hushed him with a kiss through a mist of tears.
"Your surprise, sir, was both touching and far too loving for words. You've made me understand why this day is so special and for that I'm grateful."
"So am I! Elizabeth...."
"Yes?"
He brought his lips close to her ear.
"Will you be my Valentine?"
"Happily and with pleasure I'll be your Valentine. William, remember when you asked me to be your Valentine for the first time?"
"When I recited poetry?"
"Yes, now it's my turn to recite....."
"Blessings are the things we take for granted.
Each holiday we notice what we see.
Most know the Earth is utterly enchanted
Yet walk through life and love mechanically.
Valuing one's gifts takes resolution
After days and nights of fantasy.
Love brings the sweet relief of absolution,
Enveloping our hesitance in need.
No touch inspires so swift a revolution,
Transforming all the hieroglyphs we read.
In your love is the charity of spring,
Neither self-obsessed nor blinded by some creed,
Embracing the grey dawns that blessings bring."**
*Nicholas Gordon
**Nicholas Gordon