Author's Note:

Hi, guys! I thought I would post today and give you an early Christmas present! In this chapter, you get news from other characters that we have not seen for some time. There will be consequences (good or bad) that we'll explore in future chapters. Don't worry though, this is an angst-free story.

Anyway, Merry Christmas! Happy Holidays!

Stay safe!

Jen


"Shall you be a good boy, Bennet?" Fitzwilliam asked his son.

Bennet nodded his head and lay down next to Elizabeth.

"I shall leave you, then," Fitzwilliam said and sat down on the bed. "Take care of Mama, Ben."

"Yes, Papa," the boy replied.

Fitzwilliam kissed his son's forehead and pecked his wife's lips as he rested his palm on her belly.

"I love you, the three of you."

"We love you," Elizabeth replied and very reluctantly, Fitzwilliam left his wife and children and went to another ball.


56.

As much as the Darcys enjoyed London, it was a relief to start their journey back home. The girls had attracted a lot of attention from gentlemen but as they were just starting their introduction into society, none of them was overly anxious to get married. They returned to their homes with happy memories and lots of new knowledge.

They stopped at Longbourn for a few days to visit with the Bennets and return Kitty and Mary back home. There, they announced Elizabeth's condition and finally rejoiced in the new addition. Elizabeth enjoyed her reunion with her friends and neighbours and was highly amused when the servants at Longbourn, who used to refer to her as "Miss Lizzy," now referred to her as "Mrs. Lizzy." Bennet was introduced to everyone at Meryton and no one could miss the look of pride in his parents' eyes.

Upon returning to Pemberley, the news was just as happily received and with barely any time to spare for it was now quite evident that Mrs. Darcy was carrying another child.

This joyful news was, however, followed by more tragic ones. A month after they had settled back at Pemberley, Elizabeth received a letter from Charlotte announcing the death of Mr. Collins. Although Elizabeth had never liked her cousin, she could not but feel for such a sudden death of one so young.

"Charlotte writes that the carriage was completely turned over when they found him," Elizabeth told her husband as soon as she recovered from her surprise.

"But Mrs. Collins was not there? She was not hurt?"

"No, she was at Hunsford when it happened."

"We must thank the Lord for that," Fitzwilliam said, sitting down next to her on the settee and holding her to his chest as he rubbed her back to comfort her. "How is she?"

"She writes she is well but shocked. Oh, poor Charlotte! What shall happen to her?"

"My love, I am sure that Mr. Collins has provided for her and if he has not, the Lucases will surely welcome her back home, will they not?"

"I believe so."

"And if they do not, she is always welcome to stay here."

She looked up suddenly from her letter to him. "Would you allow that?"

"Of course. I know how much you care about her."

She sighed and relaxed into his arms, comforted in the knowledge that either way, Charlotte would have a home. A sudden kick in her belly made her smile as her hand moved to her now five months bump.

"They had no children," she whispered sadly.

"Perhaps there is still a chance for that, my darling. She might be carrying now."

"She did not say anything in her letter but I suppose we shall know soon. I do not know if that would be such good news now that she is alone and maybe penniless."

"She might also remarry," he offered in an effort to comfort her as he knew her pain was due to Charlotte's physical and emotional wellbeing.

"She might, but in Hertfordshire..."

"Darling," he interrupted her and cupped her cheeks so she would look at him. "She is a respectable widow now, not a spinster. She might have some money left from Mr. Collins and even if she does not, there are plenty of gentlemen, outside of Meryton, who might be interested. She is intelligent, frugal, and sensible. When her mourning period is over, she can come with us to London and we shall introduce her to several people. Do you think she will be particularly saddened by Mr. Collins' death?"

"Well... she did not marry him for love but she must have felt something for him after living as his wife for four years. He might have been silly but he was not a cruel man. I think she cared for him in her own way."

"Let us hope she shall be alright."

Elizabeth soon found that Mr. Collins, under his patroness good advice, had settled some money on Charlotte. It was not a fortune by any means, but it would allow her to have some independence. However, she did return to Meryton a few weeks later to live with the Lucases. She declined Elizabeth's invitation to visit at Pemberley for the moment, but she assured her friend that she was well and promised to visit when the time was right.

"Perhaps I should go to see her," Elizabeth said one day as she cuddled in bed with her husband.

"My love, you are seven months with child and it is a long way to Meryton."

"But she has rejected all my invitations."

"Perhaps she needs time to heal alone."

"I am worried about her."

"I know you are, Lovely Lizzy," he nuzzled the back of her neck. "That is one of the many reasons I love you."


"Where exactly are you leading me?" Fitzwilliam asked his wife on a hot day in June as she dragged him across their gardens.

"I thought we deserved some privacy," she said, throwing him a mischievous smile over her shoulder.

"I agree, but that does not reply my question," he remarked and then a thought occurred to him. "What about Bennet?"

"I meant privacy from Bennet," she chuckled. "He is with Mother and Father, probably being pampered."

"That is quite likely," he smiled and let her guide him.

Soon he realised she was leading him towards their usual hideaway, their little nook, as she called it. They walked past the line of trees to the small clearing and he noticed that there was a blanket and a couple of baskets waiting for them.

"I organised a picnic just for the two of us," Elizabeth told him.

"Is it a special occasion?" he asked, worried that he had forgot an important date.

Elizabeth realised what he must have thought and laughed. "No, indeed. But we shall receive our family soon and then the babe will be born and we might not have time for ourselves for a couple of months."

Fitzwilliam smiled and wrapped his arms around her waist. "We have not been alone here since you were carrying Ben."

"'Tis true, we have come here with him since then and he will not appreciate it that we came alone this time but Mother and Father promised to keep him entertained."

"Well, then, what have you brought, Mrs. Darcy?"

They sat down and enjoyed the food, the wine, and the company. They spoke about possible names for their babe and their plans for the following week.

"Did Jane mention Miss Bingley in her last letter to you?" Fitzwilliam asked as they sat enjoying the sun after their meal.

"No, she has not," Elizabeth replied, surprised. "Why?"

"Bingley told me that the Hursts have given her an ultimatum—either she accepts a proposal of marriage or uses her dowry to form her own establishment."

"They have tired of her?"

"Well, you know Miss Bingley, my love. Even Mrs. Hurst has had enough of her sister's attitude. Especially now that she and Mr. Hurst have a child. Miss Bingley complains that little Miss Hurst makes too much noise, but it is their own home."

"You said that she had to accept a proposal of marriage. Does that mean that she has received one?"

"Yes, but she did not deem the gentleman worthy," Fitzwilliam replied with a tone that carried disbelief.

"Not high born enough, you mean?" she smiled.

"Yes. He is a colonel with three children."

"Oh, a widower, then?"

"Yes, he is looking for a mother for his children."

"If Miss Bingley finds Miss Hurst annoying I do not think she will be the best option. Does he have enough money to afford a wife, three children, and possibly more?"

"He is the second son of a country gentleman. Bingley told me that although he is not wealthy by any means, he has some money and he could use Miss Bingley's dowry."

"Do you think he is a good prospect for her?"

"As good as any. It might be a cruel reality, darling, but she is not a young debutante anymore. Her dowry is respectable, but not many men will be attracted by her selfish and unkind behaviour towards others. And although she might think she is good enough for an earl, she does not have the connections nor the kind of ladylike behaviour expected of a countess."

"So she only has her dowry to attract suitors. I had less than that, Fitzwilliam."

Her husband, who had been gazing at the lake in front of them, turned to her suddenly, looking appalled.

"You cannot be serious!"

"I am! I had almost no dowry at all. I suppose that unlike Miss Bingley, I am a gentleman's daughter, but my connections were just as good as hers."

"You forget you had kindness, selflessness, beauty, youth, wit, liveliness, good-humour... Should I go on?"

She laughed and begged him to stop. "Very well, I get your point."

He wrapped an arm around her and brought her closer before placing a kiss on her brow.

"I found gold with you, Elizabeth, but Colonel Kelly will not be so fortunate."

"Has she accepted him?"

"Not yet, but she does not have many options. Mr. Hurst gave her until the end of this month to make a decision."

"I cannot but pity her," Elizabeth sighed against his chest.

"That is your kindness speaking, you see? I am not so kind, I cannot feel for her after her last visit."

"Oh, I am still enraged when I think of her last visit but being so very happy this last couple of years makes it harder to concentrate on such matters. Is Colonel Kelly a cruel man?"

"No, but he seems like a fair man. He will not tolerate Miss Bingley's cruelty and he is used to ordering his men so I do not think she will find a very tolerant husband in him," he said and the silence that followed urged him to add: "Do not worry about her, my love. She is reaping what she sowed. She could have married earlier if she had not pursued me so blindly in spite of my obvious disinterest. She could have stayed with the Bingleys if she had not tried to ruin our marriage and she could have stayed with the Hursts if she had not made their lives a living hell."

"I suppose you are right," she said. He cupped her cheek and turned her face towards him so she would look him in the eye. "I am rather silly, am I not?"

"No, you are not."

"I suppose I would like everyone to have a wonderful family like I do, with a loving husband, a wonderful child, and another one in the way, but Miss Bingley would not appreciate that."

"No, she would care more about appearances and money than respect and affection."

"She could live with her dowry."

"Yes, but she would need a good part of it to form her own establishment and it will not last forever, especially because I doubt she will be frugal with her expenses. But, would you like to hear good news now?"

"Very much, yes."

"I hope you do not mind, but I wrote a letter to Mrs. Collins."

"Did you?" she asked, surprised.

"Yes. I know you want her to visit, so I sent my own letter insisting that she was welcome whenever she wished."

"And?"

"She agreed to come to Bennet's birthday."

"Oh, but that's in September!"

"Yes, but then it shall be six months after Mr. Collins death and therefore she will be in half-mourning."

"Dear Charlotte! That sounds as sensible as she is. I understand and it is more than I have achieved so far trying to convince her."

"I thought she might feel it an imposition, so I wrote to her myself, on behalf of my parents, too."

"Oh, Fitzwilliam, thank you!" she said and kissed him repeatedly.

"Let us not speak of Mrs. Collins anymore. I cannot quite concentrate on her while my beautiful wife looks like the wood nymph she is."

Elizabeth laughed. "You had better not be too forceful, sir. Wood nymphs can be quite protective of their offspring and this one is carrying a little wood nymph, too."

He smiled and reached for the white rose he had plucked from their garden. He removed the thorns, cut the stem shorter, and placed it in her hair. He looked at the result and was enchanted by the way her dark hair contrasted with the white rose, by the way her cheeks were flushed because of the heat of June, by the way her green eyes shone under the sun.

"Then I have to be very gentle," he whispered and brushed her lips with his thumb, "lest I frighten my wood nymph."

He leaned down and caressed her lips with his before capturing her mouth. He licked her lips and nudged her mouth open with his tongue until she allowed him entrance. He felt her hand on his neck moving upwards to tangle in his hair and bring his head closer as she kissed him deeply and moaned against his mouth. And just when he felt he would burn if he did not bring her closer, she was gone.

He opened his eyes and, still dazzled by her kiss, looked at her in confusion. She smiled and stood up, as fast as a woman with an eight-months pregnant belly possibly can.

"Lizzy?" he said and was surprised to hear how affected his voice was after just one kiss. She gave him a naughty smile as she undid the buttons of her dress, which she had chosen today for its quality of being easily removed. Fitzwilliam's eyes bulged as he asked: "What are you doing?"

"What does it look like?" she asked as she slid her dress down her body.

"Elizabeth! Someone might come!" Fitzwilliam argued, as he stood up and looked around to make sure they were alone.

"We have never encountered anyone here."

He turned to her again and could not help being amused.

"Why are you not wearing stockings, my love? Or stays?"

"It is too hot for that."

"You planned a seduction!" he accused her, trying not to smile.

"And what if I did?" she grinned as she removed her petticoat, followed by her chemise.

He watched entranced as she stood in front of him wearing only a teasing smile and bathed in sunlight. He thought she looked stunning with her heavy breasts and her round stomach that carried his second child. She turned around and walked towards the lake.

"Where are you going?" he asked, unable to believe his own eyes as they devoured the sight of his beautiful wife in the nude in broad daylight walking towards the water.

"I shall go for a swim," she said casually. "It is quite hot, is it not?"

He stood speechless as she immersed herself in the lake slowly until it covered her breasts. He saw her use her hands to get her neck wet and watched her skin shinning as drops of water slid down in between her collarbones to the curve of her breasts. His wood nymph had transformed into a water sprite or a siren, tempting him to perdition. He felt his body react to her and hesitated.

He looked around once more and pounded on the possibility of being found nude in broad daylight. Their small clearing was surrounded by trees on one side, blocking the sight of the house, and the lake on the other. It did feel quite isolated and private and no one had ever bothered them here before, but he was still a reserved man and had no wish to be caught bare.

"Will you join me?" he heard his wife say and when he turned he saw her hands disappear underneath the water.

It was more than he could take. He did not think he had ever taken his clothes so fast before and with one last glance around the clearing, he joined his crazy and adventurous wife.

"I cannot believe I'm doing this. You are insane," he whispered against her neck as he held her naked body as close as their child would allow.

"But you love me anyway," she chuckled and ran her wet hands over his shoulders.

"I do."

The combination of her touch, which always delighted him, and the cold water on his heated skin, which had begun to perspire underneath so many layers of clothing, felt heavenly. He slid his own hand down her back, caressing her bottom before giving her an appreciative squeeze and holding her up so she could wrap her legs around his waist. Here, in the water, she was light and she did not fear being too heavy for him with the added weight of their child.

The cold of the water was enough to cool their skin, but not their ardour. Fortunately, nobody was there to witness the intertwined lovers in their little private nook.


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.