A/N: Sorry this has taken so long.. had a case of writers block for a while. I already have another chapter in mind and I'm still formulating a 5th. Please review! I absolutely LOVE reading them!! I hope you like it!
Unwanted Separations:
Elizabeth and Georgiana Darcy were spending a quiet afternoon reading in the library while Mr. Darcy was meeting with his steward in his study. They had planned to go for a stroll about the grounds but the rain had kept them indoors all day. Lizzie was beginning to wonder if they would see Fitzwilliam before the bell rang for dinner or not. As if he'd heard her thoughts he came into the room.
"Afternoon ladies. Are you both enjoying your books?" he asked as he walked over kissing them both on the top of the head before setting on the settee next to his wife.
"Ah, I fear we have been far too distracted chatting aimlessly. Have we not Lizzie?" responded Georgiana.
"Correct you are Georgie. Here I was thinking I would miss spending time with my sisters, but I find we get along just as if we'd been sisters all along and not just these few months." Elizabeth said with a laugh.
At this Darcy smiled. He'd hoped that his new wife and his sister could grow to be the best of friends and it warmed his heart to see those hopes coming to be. Georgiana had always been very shy and it usually took her a very long time to warm up to someone to the point where she would say more than a few words during a conversation but surprisingly her and Lizzie had grown very close almost overnight. Most of the credit for this went to Lizzie herself for she had taken extra care to bring Georgiana out of her shell. Watching his sister slowly blossoming into a lady of grace made him joyful. He knew his parents would be proud of her and the woman she was becoming.
"I hate to break up your tête-à-tête ladies but Elizabeth, there is something we need to discuss. Would you care to join me in my study for a moment?" Mr. Darcy requested.
"Oh, that's not necessary," responded Georgiana, "I was thinking of going to practice on the piano forte anyhow. I'll be in the parlor and unless one of you needs me before then I shall see you both at dinner." With that Georgiana rose and left the room.
"What is it you needed to discuss darling?" asked Elizabeth.
"It concerns my meeting this afternoon with my steward." He replied. "I fear you won't care for it much, and to be honest, I don't either but try as I may I don't see a way around it." Darcy watched as concern washed over her face and after a moment continued, "It seems I must go to Town to deal with some business for about a week. I promise I shall hurry things as best I can and return to you with haste."
Lizzie couldn't hide the disappointment in her eyes. She knew that trips to London were a part of running the estate but she wasn't looking forward to his departure nonetheless. She was about to inquire about the possibility of going along when Darcy spoke.
"I would normally ask you to accompany me, but I don't think that would be prudent with the weather as it is. I've been informed that the road conditions are less than satisfactory and I wouldn't want you to be in any danger my love. I would not be going myself, but this cannot be put off any longer. I was waiting until the weather improved but Mother Nature had other plans I suppose."
It pained Darcy to have to leave his darling wife behind, even if it was just for a few days. They had had to spend some time apart during their engagement while he went to London to finalize things for the wedding and attend to financial business such as adding Lizzie to his will and so on and the separation had been agony. He was loathe to go through it again. Just then he was hit with yet another memory…
"You must write me while you are away my love." Elizabeth said; her voice heavy with sadness.
"Of course I will. Every day. And you will write to me as well won't you?" I asked.
"Most assuredly dear. I shall write you letters that will take you all day to read. So many in fact that you will eventually ask me to stop writing because reading them is taking up too much of your time." She responded with a laugh.
"I don't think I could grow tired of you writing to me Elizabeth. My only consolation will be that each day will bring us closer to the day when we will be man and wife and we will not have to be apart. If I could I would take you along but I think if I did the whole of London would be turned on its head and the King himself may have me arrested for such impropriety." I had joked.
Lizzie laughed and retorted, "Ah, you may well be right, but at least you would give all the gossips something to talk about for a good long time."
As we'd said our goodbyes that evening I would've given every pound of my fortune not to have to go, but I knew that it must be done. The stolen kisses before I went on my way had been exceptionally sweet.
Swept back into reality suddenly Darcy realized that, once again, they would be apart while he traveled to Town. At that moment he would've given the estate away to someone else if he could just spend his days quietly at home with his wife. Sometimes being Master of Pemberley was rather taxing. Elizabeth didn't miss the pain in his eyes and laid a hand on his arm affectionately.
"When were you planning on leaving?" Lizzie inquired.
"Tomorrow morning,"
"So soon?"
"Unfortunately, yes. I'm sorry that is rather short notice but as I said I simply cannot wait any longer and I figured the sooner I was gone the sooner I would return. I have rather neglected the estate business in these past few months." Darcy replied with a twinkle in his eye.
At this Elizabeth laughed softly. "Why, Mr. Darcy, whatever do you mean?"
Darcy laughed aloud. "Oh, I think you know exactly what I mean Mrs. Darcy" He answered seductively. Luckily for them they were undisturbed in the library until the time came to dress for dinner.
