Chapter One:

Pemberley 1813: Fitzwilliam Darcy, sat in his study in front of a roaring fire whiskey in hand a pair of fine brown eyes burned in to his memory. It was the beginning of September, early evening he had no really need of a fire as the weather was still mild and quite fine but he felt cold to the bone he always felt old these days. It had been long day and a even longer ten months. Georgina had test his patience today like any other seventeen year old girl she was fed up with his brooding insisting on knowing what had happened in Hertfordshire to alter him so much. He had been struggling to concentrate recently his thoughts flowing back to his time in Hertfordshire with Bingley all leading to the one night of true happiness. The only happiness he had ever had in his life. He wasn't sure how it had happened or how it had fell apart so quickly. All he new for certain was she was gone and their was no way to contact her currently all he could hope for was that some how fate would intervene and he would be happy again.

—-

The dusk was being to settle as Colonel Fitzwilliam, enter the village of Lambton. He has being granted leave and planned to surprise his cousin/ward Georgina. Georgina correspondence had become distressing of late with her brother odd behaviour describing how downcast he seemed which had now gone off or a number of months, he was a mere few miles away from Pemberley when he arrived he would be able to sooth Georgie anxieties and see his cousin for himself.

As it was early evening the village was quiet, from the corner of his eye his attention was soon caught by a young women with lively fine, dark eyes, a rounded figure that was still light and pleasing. The young women cooing over a small swaddled bundle with a delicate gold trim she looked nervous, she was shortly join by a two gentlewoman who also looked uneasy.

"Lizzy please make sure Clara Anne is well covered I hate that we have to bring her out at all at the time of night. Jane are you ready to leave?" Spoke the older gentlewomen to the younger two ladies as they approached a coach & four. The colonel didn't hear the young women's reply.

He was stunned by the appearance of the most beautiful women he had ever seen a slim figure with golden blond her who smiled like a angel even thou there was sorrow in her eyes.

The cottage they were leaving was normally empty owned not by his cousin as most of the cottages in Lambton wear but by a local man within the village. The colonel found himself wondering who they were, where did they plan to travel as they begun to lose daylight surely if was not safe for the babe. He would make it his mission to find out to seek out the blond angel.

As he continued he wondered if the young women with the child was a war widows he know the effect of war could have on a man and the women the left behind. The sun was setting and as much as he wanted to seek the young lady he had a duty to do first and he pushed on he wanted to reach Pemberley before it was truly dark to a warm fire and a fine glass of brandy.

—

Colonel Fitzwilliam arrived at Pemberley in good time, he had time to spare to refresh himself before dinner & join his cousin Darcy in front of the roaring fire with a drink in his study.

"Darcy I will be blunt what is wrong, you don't seem yourself these day and I have promised Georgie I would find out what the cause of your sorrow is"

Darcy rose his head and stared at his cousin for a moment before answering "Fitz I don't…"

He was soon cut short by a knock the door, he was save from this conversation with his cousin for the time being he new he would have to be honest with Fitz he had been his closest companion for as long as he cold remember, "Enter" he called in response to the knock.

Mrs Reynolds entered the study carrying letter she looked pale, anxious and her eyes where very wide. In all the years Reynolds had served as house keeper at Pemberley neither men had ever seen he so rattled or shaken. Jumping to his feet

"Reynolds whatever has happened you look shaken" as she reached her hand out as he could see the letter was addressed to Mr Fitzwilliam Darcy.

Anxiously Mrs Reynolds begun, "Sir the letter was accompanied by…" there was a pause. Neither man answered as they waited for Mrs Reynolds to reply.

"By a what.." Continue the colonel joining the conversation.

"A babe, a female child she looks newly born wrapped in a blanket" she calmly spoke, "the babe was left at the gate house in basket with the letter, the gate keeper just found the child and brought her to me"

Fitzwilliam Darcy didn't know how to react a child left at his home with a note for him. He was careful, he didn't have a mistress which was unusual for a man of his station, he hadn't indulged in that sin since his youth when his father had taken him to a London establishment since then there had only been one time roughly ten months ago in the library at Netherfield. As he heart begun to race he took the letter and asked where the child currently was.

"the child is with a trusted maid in my office currently I thought it was best to keep her away from prying eyes".

As Darcy opened the letter he asked "Reynolds please could you wait outside while I read this letter and lets figure out who this child belongs too. I'm sure we will need to get her home as soon as possible". Darcy noted the look of shock that was reflected from himself to her cousin as he begin to read the letter which would change his life.