The storyline, new character development, new events, and new characters are my intellectual property. Glorioux

A/N my life is a bad book, I cannot believe what is going on. Yet, I had something uplifting happen to me. I was traveling last week and lost my wallet in a shopping center. I didn't realize it until the next day. Someone found it and returned it to the main office of the center. Everything was there, including my cash. There are nice, honest people in this world. Even when I have met some awful ones, I have hope for better things. I am not well, but trying to write. Much love, be well. Thanks for the reviews.

Richard's Folly

Richard realized he might have been foolish. What if he stepped aside, and Lizzie rejected both, angry with him. Earlier that night he had met someone from his childhood…While he was getting ready he remembered the little man, clearly, so he shook his head to clear it. He wondered if he were going mad. Sitting on his desk, he saw the little man, dressed in a tunic with leggings and boots. He sat eating a grape. Richard's dog banged its tail, looking at him, and was rewarded with a juicy bone, appearing from nowhere.

The little man looked at Richard and waved. "Hello my dear son, yes, you are my son, so don't make that face; as I told William, you two are my sons. It was my right to claim the two of you after I saved William's life, as you asked. But neither of your lives will end as other mortals's lives. One day, you two will come with me; you will accept to come because it will be the right choice. I know you are short of time at this moment. Nevertheless, I decided it was time to reintroduce myself. We will talk more later." He leaped up to Richard's head, bent down, kissed Richard's forehead, and vanished.

He remembered the little man saying that he and William would share their minds. He heard soft laughter, "Dear son, giving your bride away was a gallant but foolish gesture. I have seen what would happen had you done it, Elizabeth would have been mad as a hornet, and she would have married someone else. It was a test, but, next time, think what you are doing."

One of the girls asked, "Who was talking?"

Richard was horrified, "Nobody!" He answered emphatically.

The other twin asked, "Why is Lizzbet mad as a horn?"

Thank goodness his mother was busy. Richard heard a small guffaw and huffed. He could see trouble coming his way.

William had come to bring packages sent by his cousin, the one who was to marry Georgiana. He found William talking to his friend Bingley. Why was Bingley there? Peter looked more than unhappy. He was keeping an eye on Bingley, probably jealous.

Lizzie stood up to meet the girls. She looked lovely, wearing a dark green silk dress with a daring décolletage that made Richard dream. Her hair was simply coiffed, only a few pins adorning her hair. The girls squirmed down when they saw her. A footman rushed with a glass of champagne for him and his mother. What he wanted was a taste of Lizzie.

"Miss Brye, Miss Lizzbet," the twins called. One said, "Our daddy says you'll be our mommy, like afore wif the otter daddy." Lizzie blushed and covered her mouth to hide a smile.

They ran to Lizzie, to check her out. Lizzie crouched, un-ladylike, to greet them. Richard saw William's regretful eyes, but it was time to ignore him. As for Bingley, he seemed to be staring at Miss Mary, who sat with Kitty, a younger sister. She had blossomed into a beauty; no wonder Bingley liked her. Everyone was dressed for dinner, but for his mother and William; his mother ran to William who held her while she tried not to cry. Good, William wouldn't stay.

One of the twins saw William and went to him. "Who are you? you look like Daddy." She didn't wait for an answer and ran back to Lizzie.

Richard noticed that Lizzie wasn't looking at William, gods he needed to kiss her, he needed to know she was his. He was forgetting he was also wealthy and an Earl, no need to worry that William could offer more. He walked to them. "Lizzie, these are my daughters, Daphne and Emily."

"No, I am Dee and my twin is Emmy." The bossiest one said, pursing her lips.

The other nodded. "Cousin Lettie said we are uurfas; she's stinky." She pinched her nose.

Lizzie was trying to hold her laughter, while letting the girls touch her face, her hair, her necklace. One sniffed Lizzie, "You smell good, like a flower." Richard fully agreed.

"When can we call you Mommy? Maybe today? So Cousin Lettie cannot send us to the urfandage." The other said with big fat tears. She spoke so loud that everyone heard. The room was silent; Richard's mother tightened her lips; she already knew.

Lizzie looked angry, "Who said that? You won't be send to an orphanage; I am almost your mommy. Your cousin cannot come close to you; she won't dare." She looked at Richard, outraged. She was the mother bear protecting her cubs. "I say, let her try."

Richard explained, "Lettie is a cousin," he shook his head; she wasn't paying attention. Lizzie stood up, took the girls's hands and went to sit on a couch with them. Richard followed, worried what they would say. He didn't know Letitia, she was a cousin of the girls' mother, but he would have a word with the harpy. Poor little ones, they had a rough time. The poor little ones were asking Lizzie why was she mad as a horn; it was time to intervene.

"Why do you think that?" Lizzie stared at Richard, reproachfully. By now, he was wishing the twins had not met Lizzie until after the wedding. He noticed William looking amused; William winked at him, knowing Richard was flustered.

"I didn't think such a thing, they, well." Richard talked softly.

"It's true, someone said, "Lizzbet will be mad as a horn."" The quieter one said; Richard just noticed they different color hair ribbons, useful, perhaps not, as far as he could tell both were trouble. Lizzie raised her eyebrow questioning him, but Richard looked away.

The twins had exhausted that topic; now they had another question, "Is my daddy purty?" Richard knew what was coming and cringed.

The other nodded, "He said, he hopes you, fink, he's purty. My daddy is purty, and the other is too," she pointed at William.

Lizzie grinned; Richard blushed, and William chuckled. No need to answer the question, because they had other questions. Needless to say, Richard was relieved when his mother left. William left with them, picking the twins up, listening to their questions, letting them mess his curly hair. They liked William, all children did. Funny, he was never proud or aloof with children. William was at ease with them, would talk to them, play with them, read to them. He heard William, "Yes, you can call me uncle, I like that. I will tell Cousin Lettie." William is a mystery, Richard thought.

Richard heard a growl, "The witch Lettie needs punishment, mistreating my grandchildren, precious little females. Don't worry, she will get what she deserves." The small voice was deeper, sounding rather unfriendly; rather scary, Richard thought.

Richard had not seen Lizzie coming behind him. She coughed, "I heard a little voice. It said Lettie needed punishment. I have good hearing. What is going on?"

Richard nearly jumped; he wanted to tell his alleged father to quit intervening. Apparently, others could hear him talking. Richard was right and wrong; only a few could, those who were related to his fairy father, and those who would be.

Richard grimaced; he could lie. Maybe the whatever was gone, but he suspected the fairy, or whatever he was, was here to stay. "Lizzie can we go to a place where we can be alone, for a few minutes?" Richard knew that Lizzie would do it and take him to the library

"Why?" She pouted, then grinned, mischievously.

"To answer your question." He wasn't thinking about kissing; he was wondering how to explain the who knew what.

He held her hand and kissed it; it gave him the courage he needed.

The old couple were sleeping, like usual. They sat as far away from the sleepers as possible. Lizzie sat as close as she could, but his mind was occupied. "Dearest, I have an extraordinary revelation. I am not mad; what I will say is the truth. It all started when I was a child. George Wickham, William Darcy and I were the best of friends. It all changed when George's father remarried." Richard looked away while telling her about the little man.

Lizzie listened, not saying a word. Her eyes were fixed on his shoulder. Richard saw a small box, and an unusual colored rose dropped on Lizzie's lap. Lizzie said, "Thank you sir."

Richard saw the little man kissing Lizzie's hand; he was gone after he said, "I need to punish someone who deserves it."

"You saw him?" Richard asked, relieved she would believe him.

"I did, most extraordinaire; I wish my father could see him. So you are related to him. Let's see what he gave me."

Inside the box, she found a wedding band, it had symbols made with inlaid precious gems. It talked, "I am a family ring, never take it off and you will always be safe." Lizzie, impulsively, wrapped her arms around Richard's neck and kissed him.

Richard, not thinking clearly, pulled her to his lap. Her mouth on his woke up his hunger; he moaned, feeling her heat above him. Or was it Lizzie? He heard a cough.

It was Lizzie's younger sister. "Sorry, but they sent me to fetch you. Dinner will be served."

At the word dinner the old couple woke up. "Ah, the lovers, good evening," The marchioness said, noticing Lizzie and Richard. Lizzie was standing up from Richard's lap. "My dears better luck next time. In any case you don't have to wait long for the best part of marriage."

Her husband agreed, "That it is, never too old to enjoy it, my beauty." Her husband took her hand and kissed it. Lizzie and Kitty sighed.

On their way to the dinning room, Lizzie whispered, "I hope we will be like them." Both thought about their parents; barely civil to each other.

"We will." Richard was certain. She was all he ever wanted; he would never tire of her, never.