A/N: Thank you for all of the reviews; they are the best motivators. You are the best! Hopefully I will have a few more chapters up in the few weeks. School is winding down so I have papers and final exams, so if I don't update for a while, I haven't forgotten about you, I'm just super busy. Enjoy!
Elizabeth rose early to an unsettled stomach. Her sickness in the mornings had dissipated as her pregnancy progressed, but it still bothered her from time to time. It has been nearly a week since she had awoken to an uneasy stomach. As she emptied the contents of her stomach into the chamber pot, she woke her husband.
"Elizabeth, dear, are you alright?" He sat up in bed, still rumpled from sleep.
"Yes," she said rising and walking over to her husband, "It has passed. I am fine. In fact, I think I would like to break my fast. I am quite hungry, very hungry actually."
"Are you certain your stomach can handle it?" he asked with concern.
"I am certain. I would like to eat and then I would like to take a walk before our company wakes."
"As you wish, my dear," he said ringing the bell.
Elizabeth returned to her chambers through the connecting door where she broke her fast with rolls and jam before dressing for the day. She had chosen a gown that had been made shortly after her marriage. It was made of thin, light blue material that was perfect for the spring weather. The dress was tight on her bosom, and her maid, Rosie, had struggled to get her into it. This was probably the last time she could wear this dress.
The local dressmaker had come to the house the week prior to take her measurements for new clothes to make it through her pregnancy. Although she had access to the finest dressmakers in London, she had not been up for a trip to town and it would take too long for the dressmaker to come to her in Derbyshire. These new gowns would supposedly be able to expand with her growing body. She looked in the mirror and frowned; her chest had grown even within the past few days and she wondered how she would be further affected by pregnancy in the coming months. It was very early, but already she was starting to feel discomfort.
She was brought from her thoughts by a knock on her dressing room door, "Elizabeth, may I come in?"
"Yes Fitzwilliam, you may enter," she said moving away from the mirror.
"You look very well today," he said as he entered, taking in the sight of her in the gown. He loved when she wore blue. It was his favorite color on her.
"Thank you. But, this will be the last day I wear this gown," she said smoothing the material over her stomach, "it is too small."
"I think it looks exquisite," he said, his eyes lingering over her generous cleavage, "so lovely, in fact, that I would take great pleasure in helping you out of it in this instant."
"Fitzwilliam!" she cried in mock horror, "it is a lovely spring day and I wish to spend it walking and enjoying the weather."
"As you wish," he said taking her arm and escorting her out of the room, "but promise me that we shall 'rest' before dinner and you will let me help you out of your gown."
She smiled, "of course, but you must wait until the afternoon."
"Very well," he grinned.
They strolled through the gardens for over an hour, chatting amiably about a book they had both just read, and enjoying the warm breeze and the aroma of the flowers. By the time they finished walking the grounds, the entire party was awake and breaking their fasts in the dining room. They joined the party and entered the conversation.
They were discussing plans for a picnic lunch by the pond. It was simply too lovely a day to spend indoors. Their planning was interrupted when Mrs. Reynolds entered and brought Elizabeth to the hall to speak with her, "Mrs. Darcy, and unexpected guest has arrived. It is your sister Mrs. Wickham."
Elizabeth's mouth drew into a thin line, "Has she arrived alone, without her husband?"
"Yes ma'am. She says her husband left her here on his way into London."
"Has she said when he plans to return for her?"
"No ma'am. It appears as if there is no plan to return for her in the near future."
"Very well," she said running a hand over her stomach, "I shall fetch Jane and inform Fitzwilliam, and then I shall return to greet my sister. We must do out best to keep her from Georgiana, or to keep her from speaking of her husband in her presence. I am afraid she remains ignorant of her husband's past with Georgiana and she has not matured enough to take a hint about her actions. Oh, foolish girl!"
"Yes ma'am."
Elizabeth retrieved Jane, making their excuses, and they made their way to the home's entrance. Lydia was ordering the footmen to take her bags up to the finest room available as Mrs. Reynolds did her best to contain the situation.
"Hello Lydia," Elizabeth said, "You did not write to tell me you were coming."
"La! I am a married lady, I do not have the time to write!" she scoffed.
"Jane is married as well and she was capable of writing to me."
"Well, I am not Jane!" she snapped, "and I do not have to write to anyone about my plans!"
"Lydia please," Jane pleaded, "Do not distress your sister. Lizzy is with child. Do not be difficult!"
"You are with child?" she asked, her face falling, "but you have not been married nearly as long as I have. This is not fair! I was the first to be married. I should be the first one to become with child!"
"Lydia," Elizabeth frowned, "at this moment, you are acting like a child."
"This is not fair! But at least you will ruin your figure while I will keep mine."
"Lydia! Please apologize to your sister," Jane said as she tried to keep peace between them.
"No. I will not apologize. I wish to go to my room. Send my dinner up this evening!" she said in a huff as she ran up the stairs. Mrs. Reynolds followed her to take her to her room.
"Do not distress yourself Jane. It is for the best. If she wishes to remain in her room until her husband returns, so be it. It will make it easier to control her."
"Lizzy, if you are not distressed, then I will not distress."
"Thank you Jane. Now, let us return to our party. They must be starting to wonder where we have gone. We will keep our plans for a picnic, despite Lydia's unexpected arrival. She will not keep us from enjoying this visit."