Author's Note: I own nothing. These amazing characters belong to Jane Austen. Though the story is set in regency times, I am romanticizing it a bit. I want to bring in the time period of the regency, for its setting and background, and add a touch of modern flavor. I hope you like it!

By Her Grace

"I should've never left London," a nervous Elizabeth muttered to her father, as they walked into the ballroom, and everyone who had been dancing before, had stopped. The music had quit when the musicians had to stand to see who was the cause of the commotion. And the neighborhood gossips had already begun to whisper, "Look at her, poor soul" and "Widow to the Duke." and "What will she do now?" Though she didn't find the gossip unnerving the stares she could do without. Or more likely, the looks of pity. She hated pity.

"Now my dear," her father took her arm as they walked to the far end of the assembly hall, "The mourning period has ended. You need to get out and be a part of society again" To this Elizabeth smiled. Her father had been her biggest emotional help this past year, as she mourned the loss of her young husband. "Is this society, Papa," amused as she was, she was relieved her father treated her no different than before she was married. His favorite child, the one who kept his wits about him. "Well more or less," he chuckled back, secretly thankful to see her smile. The first smile that day, and hopefully many more to come.

Elizabeth had married young. At the age of 17, she had stayed with her Uncle and Aunt Gardiner for the summer, helping with the care of her newborn cousin. To this she was admitted into society, going to social events, meeting the ladies of the "Ton" , and even a couple balls. It was at one of these balls she met the Duke of Devonshire, or William, to her. She hadn't known at the time of his title, or his riches, (though by his clothing, she could tell he was by no means mercenary), she just knew that she enjoyed his conversation. He was amusing, enjoyed the ironic, much like her own father.

That ball was the start of many things to come. Their love came fast, their courtship brief, and seven months later they were married at the small church in Hertfordshire, where friends and family surrounded the happy couple. Her mother going on about the jewels that she was sure to receive as the Duchess of Devonshire. Her father happy she married for love, sad to depart from her. And her sister all but swooned over the finery. Except Jane. Jane just cried, happy her most beloved sister, who claimed she would be a spinster, had found love after all.

Twelve months after their wedding came a wonderful addition to the family. Or two wonderful additions to the family. With the care of Jane, and Aunt Gardiner, and her mother telling her to pray for a boy the whole time, Elizabeth gave birth to a set of twins. First a boy, much to her mother's delight, whom they named for his father, William. And then a girl, who closely resembled her mother's beloved sister, Jane. They named her Sophia Jane, or to her family, she was just Sophie.

The children grew and thrived under the loving care of a doting mother and a loving father. The new parents broke tradition. Elizabeth nursed her children. William walked the floors at night with his daughter, who turned out to be quite colicky, and temperamental. As much as she resembled her Aunt Jane, her personality was very much that of her mother's. William in turn turned out to be a gentle soul. Calm when his sister was not.

Seven months after the birth of their children though, tragedy struck the house of Devonshire, when William came down with the fever, rather quickly, and passed. Leaving behind a distraught wife, and two young children.

The family stepped in. Her mother-in-law became a close confidant, and Jane raced to London to be with her and to help care for the children. The funeral was, which was to be expected, very large, with diplomats, and common folk alike mourning the loss of the young Duke who was only twenty-five.

The ladies of the "ton" who came to accept Elizabeth as one of their own, for her honesty, her charm, and her fashion sense as the Duchess of Devonshire, brought her a much needed respite from the looks of pity, that would greet her daily.

Her father's daily letters from Longbourn kept her sane.

All in all it was her children that brought her the most joy over the past year. William who started to walk, just before his first birthday. Sophia when she said her first word, "Ma". Motherhood, brought out the best in the former Elizabeth Bennet. And to this she was extremely happy.

Now as she stood, in the corner of the assembly hall with her beloved father she didn't feel so bad. The mourning period was over, and as hard as it would be for her, she had to move on, if not for the sake of her sanity, but for her children as well. She smiled remembering, her son this morning. When she woke up to see his bright, brown eyes, staring at her. He had escaped his bed, so he could be with his Momma. At nineteen months, he hardly spoke, but he was a good observer, and new when his dear Mama needed him the most.

Her father was telling her some amusing story about the youngest Lucas boy, who fell from a tree this morning, but Elizabeth had scarce heard a word of it. Her children were constantly in her thoughts, but at this moment she was paying attention to her sisters dramatics. Lydia, as flirtatious as ever. and Kitty ever her shadow. Dear Mary kept to the dark shadows among the wall, and only spoke when asked a question. and Jane was having a quiet conversation with Charlotte Lucas, a childhood friend to both herself and Elizabeth.

Jane and Charlotte looked in her direction and made their way over toward her, weaving around the dancers.

"Eliza!" Charlotte hugged her dear friend closely as she whispered in her ear, "I'm so happy to see you." and she was. You could say many things about Charlotte Lucas, and Mrs. Bennet often did, but Charlotte was a steady force in the lives of Jane and Elizabeth and they for her.

"Have you heard?!" Jane stepped in, "Netherfield Park is let at last, by a young man from the north of large fortune!" Charlotte took over from there, "His name is Mr. Bingley. He brings with him a party from London," Jane interrupted, "seven ladies and twelve gentlemen!"

"No it was twelve ladies and seven gentlemen, " exclaimed Charlotte.

"Too many ladies," amused Elizabeth.

"Do you know this Bingley, Eliza," asked Charlotte.

"I do not," replied Elizabeth. "Though I have heard rumors of a Caroline Bingley from the ladies in the ton. If she is of his relation, I do not know."

"It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man, in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of wife," Jane broke into a fit of giggles.

"If that be so, dear Jane," Elizabeth was mellow, "then you should be married by the end of the year, I will not accept anything less, for you are the most beautiful."

Jane blushed and looked down, "and what of you Lizzy? You are just as beautiful" And indeed she was. Her figure was tall, her brunette hair, when down, tumbled down her back. Her dark eyes, always carried a sparkle of amusement in them.

"Aye, but you see, I am widowed, and I am resigned to my fate of raising my children and living in the Dowager house"

Jane gasped, while Charlotte looked on amused. "Eliza you are no where the dowager fate you are..." she was cut off, by the announcement that the party from Netherfield had arrived.

Everyone turned and stare. Elizabeth was glad that it was not at her. The Duchess merely looked at her father in amusement.

Please shoot me a quick review! I hope you enjoy!