"The carriages has just entered the park, Your Grace" said Mrs. Reynolds after being allowed entry to her master's study.
"Thank you, Mrs. Reynolds. Please inform Her Grace" said the duke as he finished the letter he had been penning.
His family had just arrived for their scheduled visit, his wife's grandparents already in residence for the duchess' lie in the Iron Duchess refused to miss. The Gardiners and Fitzwilliams were arriving for an extended visit and his wife was all aflutter as she got the mansion ready for their visits despite her very advanced state. She was, for lack of a better word, huge as she carried what they now knew to be twins, but the boundless energy she suddenly got during her last month of pregnancy belied her size.
They had immediately retired to Pemberley following their wedding ball to await their firstborn and he was beside himself with worry once his long time doctor and the midwife confirmed his tiny wife was indeed carrying two babes. He prayed daily for a healthy pregnancy and birth not knowing what he would do if something happened to any of them.
To his immense relief, besides the big scare, she had been relatively healthy throughout her confinement and his concern decreased as his joy increased while he watched his beautiful wife sprout with his seed amazed as she grew even more attractive as her condition advanced, if that was even possible. Lately though his duchess was decidedly ill tempered and he could use the relief his houseguest were sure to bring. Hopefully her ire would turn on them when she was uncomfortable, preferably Sutton, he thought fondly as he went to join his wife and their grandparents in welcoming his family.
"You are one huge little person, Your Grace" said the viscount in amusement at how big his cousin had gotten since he last saw her as everyone reconvened in the drawing room after having refreshed themselves from their trip.
"Sutton!" said his mother incredulously.
"You never call a lady huge, son" said his father in amusement. "No matter what the cause."
"There has got to be two in there" he said all but ignoring the warning. "Give over! Did I win the bet? Has a doctor confirmed that you are carrying twins?" he asked excitedly.
"Yes a doctor has confirmed that she is indeed carrying two babes though I am surprised none of our womenfolk who already knew that told you" answered the amused duke.
"They never tell me anything" he said nonchalantly waving off the duke in his excitement at being right. "So I won the bet" he declared.
"Who did you bet?" asked his brother in amusement.
"I bet…" he said before stopping in shock and looking around the room at his family's amused faces in disbelief. "Wait! Who did I bet? Someone did bet me right?" he asked, increasingly upset at this turn of events as his family openly laughed at him.
"I do not think you did, cousin, though you may have the immense pleasure of being right and the first one to say so" said Elizabeth in amusement.
"But this is unpardonable. Someone had to have bet me. I was looking forward to winning" he pouted to his family's further entertainment.
"Well you won in spirit if nothing else" said the highly amused colonel, having been looking forward to this as he realized no one bet his brother months ago though he repeatedly mentioned said bet and his intention to win it.
"So how have you really been, Lizzy?" asked her Aunt Gardiner once the laughter died at the disappointed viscount. "I know you say you are well in your letters but this cannot be an easy confinement" she said in concern.
"I have been more than well since the scare we had when we first arrived here" she said.
She had been decidedly ill on their return to Pemberley but the doctor chalked it up to the rigorous schedule she kept while they were in town as well as stress. After about a fortnight of prescribed bedrest that nearly drove the entire estate mad as she revolted against the restraints, everything had been fine. Since then the peace and quiet of her beautiful home had worked wonders for her and her babes and she had been very healthy.
"The lovely environs of Pemberley and the peace away from town and all the family strife is just what we needed to recover" said Elizabeth.
"With a strong dose of a smothering grandmother and a hovering husband to go along with it right, LizBear?" said her grandfather at their private joke.
She had come to him in near tears about a fortnight after they arrived due to the restraints and restrictions her grandmother and husband put on her as they watched her every move closely. She had had enough and begged him to intervene as she told him of her own failed operations she had previously planned to escape her husband's restrictions.
After some strategic battle planning they were able to allude the pair for hours at a time so that she may enjoy her freedom. Once they caught on to what was going on they both decided to loosen the reins so she did not have to result to subterfuge for a little peace, though he missed the fun of alluding them.
"Undoubtedly" she said with a dramatic eye roll.
"Well you look infinitely better than I imagined for one at such an advanced stage" said the relieved Lady Matlock.
"Though she has been a bear to live with these past few days" tattled Georgiana fondly.
"Ah, the do not touch, speak, or even look at me phase" said her Uncle Gardiner.
"And the I would prefer for you not to even be in my presence phase" said Lord Matlock.
"Yes, the please leave the room because you are breathing too loud phase" added her grandfather in amusement.
"So this is normal?" asked the relieved duke who thought his duchess was beginning to tire of his presence lately.
"I beg your pardon, Your Grace?!" said an incredulous Elizabeth. "Are you implying that I have been as fickle as these men are describing?"
"Of course not, my love" he said quickly with no little panic to the amusement of all. "I just meant you have been a little sensitive lately and I was beginning to wonder if I had done something wrong."
"Sensitive?!" she cried in outrage.
"Yes! Like right at this very moment for example!" said the viscount in amusement at the scene making everyone laugh but Elizabeth and the duke, who was a little afraid to.
"I am no such thing!" she protested to further laughter.
"Are you not, dear?" asked the amused grand duchess, knowing her granddaughter had most definitely been, as her sister said, a bear to live with lately which could only mean she was close to giving birth.
"Tis nothing to be upset about, Lizzy" said her aunt. "It is very natural at this stage as our menfolk that has experienced the same has demonstrated."
"I am not upset, aunt. Tis simply not true" she insisted.
"Of course it is not true, dearest. Forgive me" said her husband, trying to placate his now agitated wife.
"Do not patronize me, Your Grace!" she spat.
"Dearest?!" he said in alarm.
"Oh my" she cried in horror after she so unreasonably snapped at her loving husband. "I am sensitive" she admitted with a gasp of surprise to everyone's amusement. "I am so sorry dearest. I did not mean to speak to you so" she apologized to her startled husband.
"It is perfectly understandable, my love" he said with a kiss to her hand.
"And perfectly entertaining" said the viscount, hardly believing his usually easy going cousin had gotten so upset.
"We shall see if you feel the same way when it is your turn, son" said Lord Matlock, fondly remembering his own testy wife at that phase.
***Warning: Some sexual content depicted!***
"Dear Lizzy's Grace" she said as she hugged her husband once they were alone in their chambers after everyone retired to rest before dressing for dinner. "Have I been very unreasonable lately?" she asked in remorse as she remembered snapping at her loving husband a few times over the past few days.
"Of course not, my love" he dissembled as he kissed her passionately. "Though I am relieved to know that it is a normal phase during your confinement and not something I was necessarily doing wrong."
"In other words I have been a bear to live with" she teased as she returned his kiss while undressing her neglected husband.
It had been days since they had been intimate and though she was very advanced, their lovemaking had not ceased as they found ways to enjoy their intimacy though she was twice her normal size. She craved her husband more as she increased and could never get enough of him though she had been in a foul mood lately, not wanting to even be touched by him. She was determined to make it up to him as she undressed them both, laid on her side, and beckoned her excited husband.
"Oh, Darcy's Grace" he moaned as he joined his wife on the bed and slid into her from behind. "How I have missed you my love" he said as he glided in and out of her.
"Love me" she moaned, loving the feel of his generous manhood sliding in her slick folds.
"You are so wet for me" he moaned as he brought his arms around her and caressed her fuller breast, never getting enough of her.
"This is my home" he panted. "I belong between your folds, do not keep me out again, my love" he demanded as he sped up his thrust, driving them both to a maddening orgasm before starting over again, never leaving her hot sex.
BH***************************BH
"Gardiner and I were discussing the disposition of Longbourn on our way in" said Lord Matlock as the men enjoyed after dinner drinks later that night, the women having retired early fatigued from the trip. "Have you made any decisions?"
"We have finally found a competent steward that we will put in place once they are notified of the change in ownership as well as the changes we shall put in place regarding the running of the household" the duke informed him.
"They still have no idea that Lizzy owns Longbourn?" asked the incredulous colonel.
"No seeing as how I knew the turnover would be contentious at best and hostile at worst, I wanted to wait until my wife has completed her confinement. This is not something that can be done remotely and I did not want to leave my Elizabeth at such at time to travel to the estate."
"Not to mention the fact that she will no doubt want to travel with you" said Mr. Gardiner.
"Undoubtedly though I have tried to discourage her. The general and I will be putting the changes in place and could very well do so without her since she has already given her input on the changes and the running of the estate but I have not as yet been able talk her out of going" said the duke.
"Nor are you likely to" said the viscount to the agreement to all.
"Unfortunately Sutton is correct" said the general. "She is as stubborn as her mother and grandmother" he said fondly.
"Does she want to make many changes?" asked Gardiner
"No not really she just wants to make sure her father has no say so whatsoever in the running of the estate and that Mrs. Bennet has no say so over the household. She wants to hire her sisters a companion and another ladies maid, she says the housekeeper is a gem and could run the home singlehandedly though she could use a little more help, which she shall get in the form of two more maids and a footman, she wants to put Mary in charge of the tenants and household accounts, which she will cut by half, in preparations of one day being its mistress. She feels Mrs. Bennet has always been too extravagant and the house could ruin on a pittance of what she spends. She also wants the younger girls more involved with helping the tenants or she will withhold their pin money, which she will also do if they refuse to abide by the new rules and learn from their companion or rail against her decision at declaring them no longer out" he said to the pleasant surprise of his Uncle Gardiner.
"They will love that new rule" said the viscount sarcastically.
"She is hoping the 10000 pounds she will be adding to their dowries and extra pin money will curb some of their protest though she said she cared not how they felt, calling them too unruly to be out in society. We will also be purchasing more horses for the farm as well as riding mares for the girls. In addition to their lessons with their companion, who will basically be acting as a governess, they will have access to all the masters they need as she wants them to be as accomplished as may be. We will revoke access to the merchant accounts, all purchasing having to be approved by the steward and housekeeper and eventually Mary. I shall also discuss ways to increase the yield as Elizabeth believes the estate could be yielding at least another 700 pounds a year or more. Any other changes will be made after I have had a change to evaluate the property for myself."
"That is an excellent start" said Mr. Gardiner.
"These are changes my Elizabeth has wanted to make for years but she had no authority or the resources to do so" said the duke proudly.
"What will happen when Bennet refuses to yield which he most certainly will?" asked Mr. Gardiner.
"He will be regulated to that cottage they wanted to throw my Elizabeth in or he could always leave the estate entirely if he cannot abide by the changes."
"Would not one such as he who never wanted to the run the estate be happy for such changes which would mean he would not have to lift a finger while living in relative comfort rent free for the rest of his life?" asked Lord Matlock.
"His pride will not let him act thus especially coming from the daughter that defied him and triumphed over him so spectacularly" said the colonel.
"My thoughts exactly" agreed Mr. Gardiner.
"No he will most surely rail against the changes and protest it to his last breath" said the duke.
"Leave Bennet to me" said the general menacingly. "He will toe the line or end up in the gallows. I have a contract filed with my solicitors in town that could bury him if he acts against my granddaughter again. I will brook no disrespect to her and she will have peace at her estate" he said with satisfaction.
"So wait, that sister of hers that married the parson to keep the estate in the family has no idea the entail has been broken?" asked the viscount in hopeful amusement.
"I forgot all about that business" said the shocked Mr. Gardiner, realizing his niece had married the imbecile for no reason.
"Oho!" said the colonel as he joined his brother in laughter. "That is poetic justice."
"Boys!" said their father.
"Even Jane does not deserve that misery, especially as there was nothing to gain from the marriage" said her truly remorseful uncle.
"After her trying to force the buffoon on my lovely cousin and repeatedly shouting that she deserved no better, I have little sympathy for her" said the colonel.
"I most certainly do not" said the still amused viscount.
"I must admit it is rather hard to muster up any sympathy for her after the way she treated my wife and deeming the parson fit for the brilliance that is my Elizabeth, but I do wish she had a chance to make a well informed decision before she married him. Had it not been so sudden I am sure my wife would have at least let her know the entail had been broken" said the duke.
"She most certainly would have. Lizzy could never knowingly do such a thing to her sister even after all she had done to her" said her uncle.
"And she has said as much. She dearly wished she knew before she married the toad as she calls him" the duke said fondly.
"Well it shall certainly be devastating to her, though I myself still cannot find it in me to feel sorry for her" said the colonel.
"Nor I" said his brother.
Little did they know that every man in that room would be agreeing with the brothers after the storm that was headed their way reached Pemberley in a few days.
BH***************************BH
"What do you think of Jane's predicament, aunt?" Elizabeth asked Mrs. Gardiner the next day as the ladies planned a neighborhood dinner while the men did they knew not what at the other end of the estate. "I truly wish she knew that the entail was broken before she married the toad" she said echoing the thoughts she shared with her husband after he discussed the conversation the men had the previous night.
"Yes, she did not deserve such a fate even after her heinous actions" her aunt agreed.
"I for one could not be happier if the man is truly as you described" said her grandmother, not happy with the tartlet that tried to ruin her granddaughter. "She deserves it for trying to regulate you to that very life through no fault of your own" she said defiantly.
"I agree" said the unforgiving Lady Matlock, unable to forget the way they treated her niece upon her return or the lies that sister of hers told to their face.
"Though I cannot forgive her for the things she did to me, I cannot be happy that she is stuck with such a husband especially since there was nothing to gain from the marriage that was made out of convenience and not affection. She has in fact married the man for no good reason and she never would have had she known about the state of the entail" said a regretful Elizabeth.
"Sadly she would not feel the same for you were you in her predicament though I do admire you for feeling thus" said her Aunt Matlock.
"I still say good riddance" said her grandmother, effectively ending the conversation.
BH***************************BH
"Georgie, did you not bet against me when I said your sister would be having twins?" asked the viscount that night after dinner as the ladies entertained them in the music room, still unable to drop the issue.
"I did not, brother as I wished your prediction would be true" she said fondly, calling her cousin by the appellation he demanded her to.
"Well who did, sister?" asked the frustrated man. "I am sure someone did and someone owes me…something" he insisted to her continued amusement.
"Give over and stop harassing our Georgie, Lord Sutton" his brother said. "No one bet against you and I have been waiting months for you to figure that out."
"You knew!" he asked incredulously to the laughter of the room. "You knew my sorry state and never mentioned it?!"
"What would be the fun in that?" asked the colonel as he laughed.
"So you went around secretly laughing at me until I figured it out?"
"Of course and it was well worth the wait. The look of shock on your face when you realized that no one had actually bet against you was priceless" laughed the colonel.
"It really was a thing of beauty" teased the duke. "I wish you could have seen it."
"This is a conspiracy!" declared the viscount.
"Dearest?!" said the panicked duke, his laughter immediately dying after he heard what he swore was a moan from his wife.
"I am well, Fitzwilliam. Just a little back pain" she said as the women all exchanged knowing glances though the babes were not due for nearly another month.
"What did it feel like, dear?" asked her grandmother to her confusion. "Was it a sharp pain that shot through your back?"
"Yes though it did not last long and I am perfectly well now."
"Was it the first time you felt it?" asked Mrs. Gardiner, instantly putting the clueless men on guard.
"I felt a few while we were planning the dinner though none since" she said as she started to worry. "Why, what does that mean?"
"Could be nothing at all" said Lady Matlock calmly not wanting to scare her. "But it could also be the beginning of labor. Is today the first time you felt it?"
"Yes though it does feel like the pains I had when we had the scare" said a now worried Elizabeth.
"What does this mean? What do we need to do?" asked the duke, now in a full blown panic. It was much too early for the babes and he was terrified.
"We should play another song while you take a drink to calm yourself, grandson" said the grand duchess in amusement.
"Exactly" agreed the countess. "A few back pains is nothing to be alarmed about. Now if she had been having them all day as they considerably worsened, then we may need to be concerned but you wife is fine for now."
"I am truly well, dearest" his wife assured him. "The ladies made sure I am well informed on the signs of labor and I assure you I would alert you immediately. Please relax" she said as she gave him a calming kiss despite being in company.
"Children!" said Lady Matlock at her breech of propriety.
"He needed that, Lady Aunt" said an unrepentant Elizabeth to everyone's amusement.
"Yes, well the blatant touching and signs of affection that you two are constantly displaying are enough without us needing to see that" said the always correct countess though she was half in jest.
"You must admit that he no longer looks like he is about to faint in worry, mother" said the viscount.
"There is that" said his brother in amusement.
"I still think we should have an early night, dearest" said the duke despite the teasing. "You have had a rather active day" he said in concern.
The increasingly uncomfortable Elizabeth did not protest as they beg their guest pardon for being poor host though they knew everyone understood. They said their goodnights after leaving Georgie in charge of their guest to the girl's great delight and amusement.
