Author's Note:

Guys, you are no fun! I knew you would figure it out very quickly, but I thought it would take more than one chapter. Oh, well. I was careful to avoid the most obvious symptoms like morning sickness and missing her period (I mean, of course, she is missing her periods, but she has not said anything), but I know you were expecting her to become pregnant any time now, so it makes sense you'd figure it out at the first possible symptom. I want to argue, in Mr. Darcy and Lady Anne's defense, that Lizzy has many reasons to be tired. She has been working hard and, as far as they know, that is the only symptom she has, which can be easily explained. I mean, I am exhausted all the time, too, and I'm definitely not pregnant haha

So, here's another short and fluffy chapter. I hope you like it!

Stay safe!

Jen

"Yes, my love?" she asked innocently, rubbing herself against him.

"Damnation," she heard him mutter lowly and she chuckled. "Temptress," he whispered as he slid her chemise up her thighs until it reached her waist. "Minx," he added, opening the flap of his breeches.

Her laughter died when he joined them together and kept muttering adjectives that started to turn tender. "Beautiful", "loving", "dearest" were some of the words he whispered in her ear as they made love slowly and lazily. "My precious, loveliest wife," was the last thing she heard, for the second after she found her pleasure, sleep took her.

21.

She awoke many hours later feeling as if she had not slept at all. Fitzwilliam had already bathed, shaved, and dressed by the time he woke her up to join the family for breakfast. She sat up and stared drowsily at her husband, who was fully clothed and sitting on the bed trying to wake her up, and she felt every fiber of her body begging her to lie back down.

"Oh," she suddenly said. "I fell asleep on you last night!"

"Yes, you did," he smiled.

"Did you...?" she blushed when he shook his head. "Oh, Fitzwilliam. I am so sorry."

"I would be offended you fell asleep on me if I did not know how exhausted you were."

"I am sorry," she reached out to embrace him.

Fitzwilliam allowed her to wrap her arms around him as he chuckled.

"I am not offended. I found it most amusing, once my ardour had cooled off, of course, which I admit, took some time."

"Oh," she groaned. "And you called yourself selfish! I used you most selfishly!"

"I live to please my wife," he smiled teasingly and only laughed more when she hid her face against his chest and groaned again. "Come, my love," he took her face from its hiding place. "It does not matter."

"But I seduced you and then fell asleep."

"I admit I was frustrated last night, but not angry with you, for I am sure you did not do it on purpose. Do not worry."

He kept holding her against him in case she still felt guilty, but after a few minutes, he realised she was too silent.

"Elizabeth? Elizabeth?" he called her and when she did not reply, he pulled her away and realised she was asleep. "My God, Elizabeth, are you all right?" he shook her gently.

"What? Yes, of course."

"You slept through the night," he pointed out.

"I know, but I do feel tired."

"I shall send for Dr. Johnson," he said and moved to stand up, but she held onto him.

"And tell him I am sleepy? I am well, only tired... drowsy."

"You might be falling ill."

"I am never ill. And I do not feel ill in any way. Please, there is no need to bother Dr. Johnson."

"Very well," he sighed. "But you and I shall be staying in bed today."

"That is quite unnecessary."

"Then I shall send for Dr. Johnson."

"Your father needs you."

"My father can manage the estate for one day, do you not think?" he argued and kissed her forehead. "I shall brook no arguments, Lizzy."

Elizabeth smiled as she looked up at him.

"You have never called me Lizzy before."

"I have not?"

"No."

"Do you mind?"

"Of course not. I like it when you say it. Although I admit I also like it when you call me Elizabeth. Why had you never called me Lizzy before?"

"I do not know. I suppose I picture your father's Little Lizzy when I call you so, and since you were being stubborn, it seemed fitting."

"I am not stubborn!"

"But..." he ignored her. "I fell in love with a grown woman and so I think of you as Elizabeth."

She knelt on the bed in front of him, wrapped her arms around his shoulders, and kissed him.

"Call me Lizzy."

"Lizzy," he chuckled and kissed her. "Lizzy," he repeated and kissed her again. "Lizzy. You shall not distract me, Lizzy. I will go downstairs to tell my parents that you and I shall remain here for the day. You, my love, will go back to sleep. I will bring something to eat."

He kissed her one last time and left before she could complain. His family was surprised when they saw him alone.

"Where is Lizzy?" asked Georgiana before he could even say anything.

"Good morning, Georgie dear," he smiled at her.

"Oh, I am sorry. Good morning, Fitzwilliam. Where is Lizzy?" she blushed, but still smiled with such impertinence that she could only have learnt from her sister.

"Is she well, my dear? I know she was very tired last night," his mother said before he could reply.

"She says she is well, but she slept through the night and still could not leave the bed this morning."

"Oh, let her rest, then. A day or two in bed should help her regain her energy."

"I fear she might be coming down with something," Fitzwilliam added.

"Should we call Dr. Johnson?" Mr. Darcy asked.

"She insists it is not necessary, for she is not in pain, but I shall keep an eye on her and fetch him the second I suspect she is unwell. Father, about that..."

Mr. Darcy smiled in understanding. "You wish to stay with her."

"Yes."

"I can very well manage, Son. I have not turned incompetent," he teased.

"I would never imply that. I know I would never get anything done while I worry..."

"I understand," Mr. Darcy cut him off. "Give her a kiss for us and tell us if you need anything."

"And take some food for her," Lady Anne added.

Fitzwilliam thanked his family, gathered enough food for both of them, and went back to join his wife. They spent the entire day in bed—reading, eating, talking, and sleeping. Or Elizabeth, at least, slept. He held her and watched her closely, waiting for any sign that might indicate she was unwell. She seemed healthy and in good humour. There was colour in her cheeks and the same sparkle in her eyes. Her appetite had not been affected, for she ate as much she usually did. He kissed her forehead as she slept and checked for fever, but he found she was not too warm. He sighed and shook his head. He was being ridiculous. He was about to fetch a physician because his wife was tired after everything she had gone through recently. There was no denying that she was happy, but he had to admit she had faced many changes in the last four months. She had moved away to a county unknown to her, celebrated the holidays with a house full of people, met his tenants and servants, learnt much about estate and household management, spent almost a month among the judgmental ton, gone through that horrible experience with Lord Brooke, and then she had spent four days on the road only to come back and keep learning and working alongside his parents and him at Pemberley. All the while, she had even taken time to strengthen the bonds with his family. No wonder she was exhausted! So much work and anxiety must also have tired her mentally.

He looked down at her and his heart swelled with admiration. Her eyes were closed and he almost mourned not seeing her beautiful green eyes, but he watched the long eyelashes resting on her cheeks, the mouth he so loved to kiss, relaxed in a soft almost-smile. She seemed perfectly well. His Elizabeth, so strong, so brave, so determined to improve herself, to learn and work, to carry his name with pride. He kissed her forehead again, this time her temperature had nothing to do with it, and he thanked God for bringing her to his life.

I do not own any Pride and Prejudice properties, nor do I make any money from the writing of this story.

Characters and situations, created by Jane Austen, are taken from Pride and Prejudice and from the Pride and Prejudice (1995) adaptation created by Simon Langton and distributed by BBC.

This story is released under the GPL/CC BY: verbatim copying and distribution of this entire work are permitted worldwide, without royalty, in any medium, provided attribution is preserved.