I don't own Pride and Prejudice

"You promise to tell us everything about tonight?" Kitty asked from where she was sat on Elizabeth's bed with Georgiana watching Emma do Lizzy's hair. Emma was her new ladies maid. Mrs Reynolds had written that there were not any maids who were trained and wanting to travel between Pemberley and town. As such an add had been placed, and Emma had been hired.

Emma had been the maid of Lady something or other, and had been released when the woman had hired a French maid. Emma had struggled to find work as no one was hiring English maids, and had taken a job as a maid for guests at another Lady's house, but at a much lower wage.

"Of course I will tell me anything you want me to, but I doubt there will be much to tell." She smiled at the girls. She and Fitzwilliam were going to a ball hosted by one of the friends of the Earl.

"Though I doubt there will be much to tell." He turned to look at the girls once Emma was done with her hair. "Well, how do I look?" She asked as she stood and spun. She had chosen a dark green dress, an emerald green that brought out the green in her eyes. Threw here hair Emma had woven tiny white flowers which seemed to glow when compared to her dark hair.

"You look beautiful," Fitzwilliam's voice came from the door. "I hope you don't mind, but I had Rodgers ask your maid what you planned on wearing tonight so that I could find something to match." Rodgers being his valet.

Opening up the case the candlelight caught the diamond and emerald necklace just right that it sparkled brighter than anything she'd ever seen. "This is far too much, I should be afraid I would lose it." She was hesitant to even touch it. The chain itself was completely done in diamonds, with smaller rows of diamonds branching off of it in the area that would fall across the base of her neck. At the base of each alternating row there was a oval emerald that was surrounded by diamonds, each emerald getting bigger until it met the center of her neck at which point they began getting smaller again. There were also earnings and a bracelet to match.

"It is yours, so it would be yours to lose." He said, and he motioned her to turn so he could fasten it around her neck. The sheer weight of it made her wonder what it was about jewels like this that made women enjoy wearing them.

"It is beautiful." She couldn't help but acknowledge as she glanced in the mirror one last time.

"Yes, it is." She glanced at his reflection in the mirror, but he was looking at her face, not the necklace. Seeing he'd been caught he cleared his throat and turned to the girls. "Have a wonderful night you two, and don't stay up too late."

Both girls were quick to acknowledge the order, and followed them down to the entrance hall to say their goodnights.

The two sat in companionable silence, until suddenly Fitzwilliam reached for her dance card. She handed it over, somewhat confused, and watched as he wrote his name in for the first, supper, and final sets. "Three sets sir, surly that will raise expectations." She said with a teasing smile.

"I was being considerate, I wanted to claim all of them, but thought that it wouldn't be fair to deprive everyone of your company." He said with as smile, and her heart sped up.

Neither one had said anything, but today marked one month since their wedding. She felt butterflies in her stomach just thinking about it, so fought hard not to, she needed her wits about her tonight.

The carriage stopped in front of a grand house and her husband handed her down, and escorted her inside. They made their way through the receiving line, and greeted their hosts, before entering the ballroom. Once inside she saw so many people, all dresses in such fine clothes. She knew she didn't look out of place, but she sure felt out of place.

Of course, all eyes were on them, but she had expected that. Instead of letting them intimidate her, she held her head high, and smiled as her husband introduced her to some of his acquaintances. Lord and Lady Matlock said their hellos, well, they said them to Fitzwilliam and just barely acknowledged her. The Earl did ask for a dance as was expected of him, as they were family.

Her dance card filled up quickly, though at times her husband seemed less than pleased by this. Before long the dancing started, and he guided her out to the floor. Through the first dance she felt like she was floating on a cloud.

However, that feeling did not last long. Her second dance was with the Earl, and she could feel his contempt radiating off him. "Surly sir, we must have some conversation, a very little will suffice." She barely contained her smile as she remembered the last time she had spoken those words.

"What will it take for you to leave my nephew alone. Would five thousand do it?" She felt her ire rise at such a question.

"I assure you no amount of money would entice me to leave your nephew." While she may not be in love with her husband, she did think she loved him, and would eventually be able to say she was in love with him. She also felt like she needed to be here for Georgiana. it was clear their family saw the Darcy siblings as tools to advance their social standing, and Fitzwilliam was going to need all the help he could get to keep Georgiana's happiness safe from them.

"Everyone has their price, would fifteen thousand be yours?"

"I assure you, I can not be bought. I happen to care for your nephew as well as your niece, I would never consider leaving them." Gone was the polite manner she had been trying to maintain with Fitzwilliam's family. He looked like he was going to interrupt, but she stopped him.

"You do not appreciate the honor and privilege of being married to my nephew then." The man couldn't hide his disgust with her.

"I do appreciate the honor of being married to a good man. A man who cares for his sister with such prodigious care, who has extended said care to one of my own very dear sisters. A man who cares for his staff and tenants and who is not afraid to pitch in and do what needs to be done so that they may too succeed. I see it as a privilege to hopefully one day give him children that he can teach to be just as good and kind as he is. I see it as a privilege to help him carry the burden of caring for so many people, especially when some of those people would rather he carry their own instead of helping him."

"Your nephew and I may not have chosen our lot in life, but we have decided to make the best of it. Luckily for us, it seems like we may be compatible in personality and temperament, which is more than most in our position or your class can hope. I will do what I can to make his life happier, just as I will do whatever I can to help keep Georgiana safe and happy."

The two didn't speak after that, and Elizabeth was happy to finally be led back to her husband once the dance was over.

"I must say Darcy, your wife dances beautifully." A young man said as he approached their group.

"Lord Cartwright, it is good to see you again, allow me to introduce you to my wife, Elizabeth. Elizabeth, this is Mr Cartwright, he and I were old friends at university." Fitzwilliam introduced the two, and they exchanged pleasantries.

"Mrs Darcy, if your dance card isn't full, I would be honored to claim a dance." He then turned to Fitzwilliam, "That is if you don't mind.

"Elizabeth is an intelligent woman who knows her own mind, should she wish to dance with you that is entirely up to her." She smiled brightly at him, before offering her card to the new man.

"Is he friend or foe?" She smiled slyly at her husband once the other man had walked away.

Her heart sped up when he returned the smile, "He is a good friend. I've known him longer than I've known Bingley."

"And is there a Lady Cartwright?"

"Is this my wife's way of trying to engage me in gossip?" His teasing smile made her flush with something akin to desire, and she was glad when he went on to answer her question. "He is not married, but he has mentioned there is a young lady he is interested in. He is just working up the courage to ask for a courtship."

They didn't get to discuss it anymore as her next partner came to claim her.