Notes: Once more, thank you for your comments!

Guest1, I'm afraid I'm not very good at expanding scenes ... I'd rather leave it to the reader's imagination. I guess one could stay that I'm better at writng outlines than long stories.

We'll only have the epilogue after this (next Friday). I plan to post the overheard conversation; can you tell me if you'd like it better as a separate piece or if you would prefer that I post it as an addendum to this story (appearing as chapter 9)?

Early December, London

The Darcys had stayed in Sussex longer than they had first planned, for, on seeing that the new Mrs Darcy was an agreeable lady who got along with their daughter, the Wilsons had extended an invitation for the young couple to stay some weeks. Several guests had also been staying, and others who had not come for the hunt arrived; Elizabeth was happy for the opportunity to be acquainted with people from her new circles and build some friendships away from the pressure of London's drawing-rooms.

At last it was time for them to leave; they were to spend some time in London with Georgiana. Mrs Annesley had fallen ill and could not host Miss Darcy any longer; she would remove to Bath once the girl was back with her brother. The Darcys had been back in their London house for one week when Elizabeth received a letter from her mother. The address was written with less care than usual, and as Mrs Bennet was very proud of her even hand, this worried Elizabeth, who hastened to open the cover.

My dear Mrs Darcy,

How well you looked when we last saw you! I am sure I never saw anyone as pretty as you, except perhaps for Jane. She is why I must write to you, as she is in a bit of a predicament presently, and I hoped your husband could do something or other about it.
You are not without knowing that Robert Robertson, second son of the Earl of Whatsitsname, had taken the lease of Netherfield after Mr Bingley did not renew it. He came ostensibly to hunt game, but was amiable enough to participate to our dinners and dances, and he was very much taken with our Jane. I did not want her to make the same mistake as she did with Mr Bingley, and told him to encourage him—you remember my advice on the subject.

"Oh, Mama," said Elizabeth, shaking her head.

She told me she put it in practice and left Mr Robertson in no doubt of her feelings, but he did not propose and it does not appear he is ready to do so—I saw him flirting with Lydia just yesterday, and she thought it a good joke to try to steal her sister's beau! That will not do!

The next lines were written with a more agitated hand.

Lizzy, I just talked to Jane. You must come to Longbourn, Mr Darcy must make that man marry Jane, or we are ruined! Your father just laughs if off and I dare not tell him everything, for then he will be killed in a duel, and what will become of us?

Elizabeth frowned at the implication that her own husband was expendable, though on a strictly material viewpoint, she supposed it may be seen thus.

Charlotte Collins will not wait long before she comes to take my place! Please, come at once with your husband. I gave orders to make your room ready. Make haste!
Yours, etc.

Elizabeth hoped that her mother was exaggerating, as was often her wont, but a niggling doubt—as well as the memory of her previous advice—held her back from dismissing that letter outright. As soon as her husband came home, she showed it to him. He read it and swore under his breath.

"Mr Darcy?"

"I am sorry, Elizabeth. Robert Robertson is not someone I would willingly associate with."

"Do you believe we should go?"

"It all depends on what your mother's advice was. A couple of stolen kisses may not be too dire, but—"

On seeing Elizabeth's face falling, he stopped. "Elizabeth? What exactly did your mother tell you?"

"She told me she had learned from Mr Bingley's desertion that since we had no connections and no dowry to speak of, we were to leave our callers in no doubt of our intentions, even if it led us to resort to impropriety." Her colour was high, and she was looking straight at the wall behind him.

"Did you use her tactics?"

"Of course not! You should know that!"

"There, there—you need not be angry. What exactly do you fear?"

"I—oh, I know I was blind about her, yet it is dreadful to think that my sister's sense of decency and virtue would be so low that she could act in such a way!" Elizabeth drew a breath. "I fear my mother fears that Jane is pregnant."

"Surely, Robertson would not have dared seducing her under your father's nose? He has no principles, but he must have some sense of self-preservation!"

Elizabeth sighed. "You have met my father. Does he strike you as someone who would fight for his daughters' honour? He sent Lydia to Brighton, and I still consider it a miracle that Lydia did not create a scandal while there. I am confident that we have my mother to thank for that—she told Lydia that she should endeavour to marry someone rich, or titled, or both, and those were not found in the army."

"Even so, Robertson would know I am her brother," Darcy insisted.

"Would he? I got the impression that my mother ceased crowing about my good fortune when it became clear we should not take Jane with us this autumn."

"Why do you care so much about Jane's predicament? I thought you had all but written her off."

"I have, but I love her nonetheless." Elizabeth paused a moment, then shook her head. "Besides, it is not only her who will suffer if my mother's predictions are correct. I may not like my younger sisters very much, but they never tried to deceive me, and they do not deserve being disgraced because of Jane's foolishness."

"You will not be at peace until we see for ourselves what the situation is, will you?"

Elizabeth, looking miserable, shook her head again.

"Then we shall go."

"Thank you!"

She stepped forward, hesitated, and, rising on her toes, kissed him before leaving the room.

The following day, Longbourn

They had only taken the time to pack before leaving. Miss Darcy had objected to leaving town, and was staying with the Hursts. She was not quite happy to stay under the same roof as Caroline Bingley, but the access to her masters made it worth it. Surprisingly, Miss Bingley's feelings towards Mrs Darcy warmed a little when she realised that the lady bore her no ill-will for having coveted the position that was now hers and had no inclination to drop the acquaintance, which would have complicated the Bingley's social life.

The Darcys had travelled easily and had been received with transports of relief by Mrs Bennet. Darcy, now ensconsed in the guest suite, waited for his wife while she spoke to her sister. When Elizabeth entered the room at last, her somber attitude did not bode well. Darcy gestured for her to sit near to him on the bed, and she complied. After a time, she spoke.

"It is as I feared: Jane thinks she is with child."

Darcy drew a breath, but said nothing.

"You came here thinking I saw the situation worse than it awtually was, did you not?"

"I did," he admitted. "I believed we had to come because you needed more reassurance than letters could bring you. I cannot reconcile your sister's behaviour with what I know of her. She has only ever been the picture of property until now."

"I asked her that very question, Darcy. It appeared that, since following Mrs Gardiner's advice did not bring her any proposal, and as she was growing older, she had decided to listen to Mama instead. She now feels very foolish for having done so."

A minute was spent in silence, before Elizabeth spoke again.

"What are we to do?"

"You are to stay here, while I pay Robertson a call. All will be well." He punctuated his answer with a kiss on her brow while she nestled against him.

"What is your plan?"

"If, as you believe, the man has no idea that you married me—"

"Jane tells me it is the case."

"Then I do not think it will be very difficult to persuade him to marry her."

Elizabeth sighed.

"Do you think she could be happy, married to such a man?"

"Given what I overheard her saying your mother last year, she would have expected a similar situation with Bingley."

"That does not answer my question."

It was his turn to sigh.

"No, I do not think she will be happy. She will, however, be respectable, or have a chance at being respectable. Your younger sisters will also retain their own respectability. This is not what you wished for Miss Bennet, but given the situation, it is the best one can hope for."

"I do not want my family to be shamed, nor Jane, but … is it very bad of me to think that, should her husband be unfaithful, she would only have what she deserves?"

A hug was all the answer she received.

Netherfield

Early the following day—but not so early that Mr Robertson would still be in bed—Darcy called at Netherfield and was quickly welcomed by its current tenant.

"Mr Darcy! I should never have expected you to call on me here. Have you lost your way? What brings you to so savage a place?"

"Meryton is only half a day from London."

"True, true—but so far from a main road that one could imagine being much more isolated. Great game to be found around here, by the way," he added with a wink which was received by a scowl.

"Still as amusing as you ever were, I see. I heard you had married recently—I pity the poor creature."

This did nothing to lessen his guest's frown. Refreshments were brought, and once the door of the study was closed, Robertson enquired again about the reason for Darcy's presence.

"I am here about my sister."

"I do not think I ever met Miss Darcy," was the halting answer. "I think she might be out next year? You would wish for me to marry her?"

"Certainly not! It is not Miss Darcy but Miss Bennet about whom I came to speak."

"Miss Bennet?"

Darcy nodded.

"Of Longbourn?"

Another nod.

"She is your sister? How—"

"You have a brain. Use it."

A handful of seconds passed before puzzlement left room to mortification on Robertson's face.

"The fifth Bennet sister—the locals said there was an additional sister who had married, but I did not pay much attention …"

"You should have," answererd Darcy with a steely glare. His host blanched.

"I, huh, I had no idea—"

"My wife is most seriously displeased."

"I, er, how about I marry Miss Bennet, then?"

"That would be an excellent idea," said Darcy, tilting his head to the side. "Add to this your word that you will not dally with young ladies anymore, no matter how inconsequential you believe their fathers to be, and we have a deal."

Robertson took a moment to think. He berated himself for not having paid enough attention to the Bennets' connections and ending in such a predicament. Yet, the situation could be worse—he could have sets his sights on Miss Lydia! He repressed a shudder. Jane Bennet, at least, was well-mannered and knew how to comport herself in public. Mrs Bennet was a good hostess and would have taught her eldest daughter how to run a house. The eldest Miss Bennet was also sweet-tempered and pliable; perhaps a better-connected or better-dowered bride would not be as acceping of the dalliances he was sure to have in the future—even if he kept them to married women or professionals. Jane Bennet was also Darcy's sister. It did not appear that the sisters were very close, and the way the Bennets had not boasted of their son-in-law hinted at a breach, but on paper Miss Bennet's connections would be acceptable. Resigning himself to the fate of marrying her was not as difficult as he thought it would have been.

"I shall give you my word, if you indulge my curiosity. How come that Mr Bennet has not come with you?"

"You have him figured out," said Darcy with a shrug. "He does not care for his daughters. My wife was supposedly his favourite, yet he has not written her a line since we wed. Mrs Bennet thought it unlikely he would exert himself on behalf of her elder daughter and wrote to Elizabeth instead. She may not like her sister much, but she would not let her, or her other sisters, suffer."

Jane married Mr Robertson as soon as the banns had been called.

The following year, Late May, Pemberley

The Darcys had retreated to the country after Easter. They had enjoyed the season, and Georgiana anticipated her coming out the following year, but they would not stay longer after Elizabeth told her husband that she suspected she was pregnant. He would have removed them to Pemberley as soon as she had made that announcement, but the concerted efforts of the Darcy women, one desirous to wait until she felt the quickening, the other displeased at the thought of cutting short her studies, made him rethink his plans.

The two ladies were now in one of Pemberley's numerous drawing-rooms, sewing baby clothes together. Darcy was in his study, dealing with some estate business. Georgiana pondered about the relationship between her two closest relations. They appeared to be happy, yet she was not certain about what had brought the match. Gathering her courage, she asked Elizabeth.

"Forgive my impertinence, Elizabeth, but … why did you marry my brother?"

Elizabeth quickly looked away. Georgiana was about to apologise for having asked such a personal question, when her sister-in-law sighed and spoke at last.

"He loves me."

Georgiana's eyebrows rose. Elizabeth saw this and laughed mirthlessly.

"You are wondering whether this is reason enough to marry, or why I did not say that we love each other." She sighed. "My feelings are a little complicated to read. I am not quite sure I know myself now; I certainly did not when I accepted him. What I do know is that your brother truly loves me, and he may be the only person in the world not to have selfish reasons to do so." She smiled. "Oh, he would tell you that selfishness is one of his faults, and perhaps he is right, but not when it came to our marriage. It is just … he loved me, and I was grateful for his love, when my own family had been so disappointing."

They stayed in silence for a time, before Georgiana spoke again.

"Have you regrets?"

"More than I care to count." On seeing the younger girl's startled expression, she added: "I had been blind for so long when it came to my family. I wish my eyes had been opened sooner. However, I could never regret marrying your brother, not when every day that passes show me how good a man he is. I am not sure I do deserve him, but I will do what I can to make him happy."

"Are you happy?"

This time her smile was genuine and immediate. "I am."

There was no doubt for Georgiana that Elizabeth was very fond of her brother, and her enquiries about her reasons for marrying him in the first place having been answered, she did not find necessary to enquire further.

"I am glad," she said, and she went back to her sewing.

Elizabeth, however, found herself distracted. She had not thought about her feelings for her husband since the day they had married, but now that she thought about it, they had changed. She had married him knowing that she could trust him, but she would not have imagined how much she would turn to him for comfort, rely on him, or how much he made her feel safe and loved. She had grown very fond of her husband, and suspected that she had even come to love him. When did that happen?

It was too much. She rose and, in a trembling voice, begged Georgiana to excuse her before all but running to her husband's study. She did not see the small smile that slowly spread on Miss Darcy's face.

It would be an understatement to say that Darcy was concerned when his wife rushed into his study.

"Elizabeth!" he cried, while she caught her breath. In two steps, he was at her side and took her hands. "What is it? Are you well? Is it the baby?"

Still breathless, she only shook her head and beamed at him. Her smile, however, dimmed under his puzzled glance.

"You will find me very silly," she said at last, her glance dropping on the carpet.

"Tell me anyway," he said, taking her in his arms.

"I love you," she whispered.

She felt him draw his breath and hold her tighter.

And they all lived happily ever after.