A/N: I can only keep apologising for the lack of frequent updates, I wish that life would ease up some free time for me but unfortunately, this isn't the case at the moment. So, I'm going to take a three month hiatus and I hope that this gives me enough time to write a few chapters and get ahead of my writing to give you lovely readers frequent updates. Please accept my apologies and I hope that you will stick with me while I continue this story.

Chapter Ten

Monday morning was the start of her plan. She had watched from the taxi Darcy's little brat being dropped off to school by the glorified babysitter and had waited for the many parents to vacate the school premises and for the school bell to ring before she exited the taxi and paid for her fare. She crossed the road, her high heels skidding across the tarmac and she stepped on to the pavement, smoothing the sides of her black pencil skirt and tossing her long red hair over her shoulder. Caroline walked through the gates to the school office, pressing on the buzzer before being allowed entry to the school.

"Miss Bingley?" the receptionist asked with a smile.

"Yes." Caroline confirmed, not returning the greeting smile.

"Take a seat, Mrs Phillips will be with you shortly."

As she sat down on the most uncomfortable chair she had ever sat upon in her life, Caroline tapped her fingers impatiently against her leopard print handbag. She could hear the tapping of the keyboards from the admin staff in the office opposite where she sat and the sound of telephones ringing which she assumed were parents calling to report their child was off sick. In truth, she didn't want to be here. This was the last thing she wanted to be doing but it was a necessary evil that she kept telling herself would be worth it in the end. If she wanted to become involved with Darcy, she had to show an interest. She had to pretend she was a 'reformed character'.

More minutes passed as she sat waiting for the headteacher. Caroline watched as the children brought back the class registers in pairs, staring at her and smiling politely. Gah. She hated children.

"Caroline?" a voice asked in a high pitched tone.

Standing up from her seat, she put on her best smile and shook the woman's hand.

"Lovely to meet you in person, Mrs Phillips." Caroline replied sweetly.

The woman smiled at her and started to take her on a tour of the school. Mrs Phillips was an aging woman, with tight wrinkles around her eyes and mouth, her neck covered by a high collared shirt. The woman's black hair was streaked with thick grey lines and the woman smiled too often in Caroline's opinion. Running her hands down her black pencil skirt, she once again smoothed the sides and met the eye of the headmistress.

"Nervous?" Mrs Phillips asked, continuing on their tour.

"A little," Caroline replied, "But I'm looking forward to working with the children."

"It is quite rewarding helping a child to learn something new." Mrs Phillips agreed.

They continued through the school building, with Caroline making a mental note of where the staff room was and where the year four classroom was where she caught a quick glimpse of Darcy's little brat. She watched briefly as Darcy's little girl sat at a table of four with three other little girls and chatted away about whatever lesson the teacher was trying to teach.

"I think you'll like it here," Mrs Phillips said with a smile, once the tour was concluded, "Well then, the sooner you get started, the quicker we can get you qualified to be a teaching assistant."

Caroline gave a false beam of excitement.

"I can't wait!" she said with fake enthusiasm, "Which year group shall I start with?"

"How about we start you in Mr Moore's year four class?" Mrs Phillips suggested.

"Perfect."

The two women walked back up the corridor to Mr Moore's classroom, with Mrs Phillips knocking on the classroom door before entering. The entire thirty year four pupils fell to silence and looked at the headteacher and Caroline with curiosity.

"Good morning year four! Today I'd like to introduce a new member of staff who is looking forward to working with you all. Say hello to Miss Bingley." Mrs Phillips instructed brightly.

But Caroline didn't focus on the twenty-nine pupils who chorused good morning to her. Her gaze instantly fell on the matching brown eyes that Mia Darcy shared with her father. The man that Caroline was in love with and would stop at nothing to claim as her own.

ooOoo

That evening after finishing Mia's trampolining class at the community centre, Elizabeth returned to the Darcy residence with her charge and instructed Mia to change and wash for dinner. As she walked through to the kitchen, she was greeted by an unfamiliar face who was chatting with Alice. The man stood up straight as her green eyes met that light shade of blue, one hand running through his longish auburn hair as his eyes travelled over her body. Elizabeth felt an uncomfortable shiver down her spine as he stared at her for a few good seconds before clearing his throat. She wasn't used to men looking at her the way this man was.

"And you must be the famous Elizabeth!" the man greeted with a toothy grin.

He held out his hand and she shook it with a confused expression on her face.

"I'm Richard," the man introduced, "I'm Darcy's cousin. Fitzwilliam has told me all about you."

"Fitzwilliam?" Elizabeth questioned.

"Will. His real name is Fitzwilliam, although he prefers to shorten it to William." Richard clarified.

At the oven, Alice chuckled as she pulled a pasta bake and garlic bread out of the oven.

"Any chance to tell that little tale, Richard." The housekeeper smiled.

"Of course Alice," Richard grinned, "Teasing my cousin on the origin of his first name is a favourite pastime of mine."

Elizabeth watched as Alice rolled her eyes and put her attention back on the dinner which she was serving up onto plates.

"Elizabeth, are you staying for dinner tonight?" Alice asked.

"If that's okay, I don't want to be too much trouble-"

"I can assure you, Elizabeth, that it wouldn't." Richard said with a wink.

"You certainly seem eager for me to stay." Elizabeth pointed out sharply.

"Call me curious," Richard replied defensively, "I wanted to put a name to the face."

"Why?"

"Curiosity."

And that was the only answer she got. Minutes later when the dining table was set with steaming plates of pasta bake and garlic bread, the front door slammed to a shut and Will entered the dining room moments later and sat with the rest of them. Conversation flowed, from Richard and Mia talking about her new activities to Richard talking about his memories from when he and Will were Mia's age. She finally heard the story of Will's first name origin and noticed that Will remained quiet for most of the meal, only really engaging in conversation if it was directed at him or speaking with his daughter.

"So, Elizabeth, tell me, how long have you been working for my cousin?" Richard asked, leaning over the table to study her more closely.

"Seven weeks. It's been rather enjoyable." Elizabeth replied.

"And what do you think of the family? Of my cousin?" Richard questioned, one eyebrow raised.

She felt uncomfortable. From what she had observed of Richard Fitzwilliam over the course of the evening was that he asked a lot of questions and paid her a lot of attention. Whilst he seemed like a man who was liked by his family, well Mia in particular and Alice seemed at ease with him, it seemed to not only make her uncomfortable but also made Will uncomfortable too.

"I like them all a lot," she answered honestly, "I'm grateful they've allowed me and trust me to share their daily lives with them."

Richard smiled at her warmly.

"I can see why you're so well talked about," he said quietly.

She turned her attention back to the rest of her dinner and ate quickly. Richard turned back to conversation with Will although her boss wasn't really in the mood for conversation with his cousin. Instead of talking, she merely politely replied to any questions that Richard asked her, such as her family life, where she grew up, her life at university, what she liked to do in her spare time. The usual questions. But she was taken aback when everyone had finished their dinner and Mia had gone upstairs to wash and ready herself for bed when Richard stood up from the dining table and handed her a scrap of paper.

"What's this?" Elizabeth asked, frowning in confusion.

"My phone number. This has been nice but I'd like to get to know you better when it's just two of us across a dinner table." Richard said flirtatiously.

She felt her cheeks redden in embarrassment. Before she could say anything on what had just happened, Richard shouted his goodbyes and left the house. After a few minutes, Elizabeth had recovered from her surprise and met the blank expression on Will's face.

ooOoo

"It was…interesting…meeting your cousin tonight." Elizabeth commented.

The two of them were sat alone on the sofa, the TV flickering on a low volume reading the news highlights. Mia had been tucked into bed twenty minutes ago whilst Alice was now finishing cleaning up the dinner plates and cutlery. All the while, Will had tucked his daughter into bed and then took ten minutes to calm himself down from the frustration of his cousin's unexpected intrusion to dinner tonight and had practically been invisibly marking his territory on Elizabeth right in front of him.

It bothered him. He knew that it shouldn't. But it bothered him.

But why did it bother him? Elizabeth was a lovely woman. Caring. Kind. Attractive. She had an infectious smile, a musical laugh and a softness to her voice which made him instantly relax after a hard day at work. She was amazing with his child and was so invested in helping Mia to achieve her potential. Any man would be lucky to have Elizabeth. She was his friend. But also his employee. So, why did it bother him that Richard had taken an interest in her?

"Did you like him?" Will questioned curiously and perhaps, a little too quickly.

Luckily, Elizabeth didn't seem to note his eagerness to have his question, his fears, his racing heart with nerves waiting to be calmed, answered.

Elizabeth pulled a face and shrugged her shoulders.

"He asked a lot of questions and it made me uncomfortable at times. I didn't want to be rude and tell him to mind his own business, I was on the clock and he is your family." She answered.

"You know he's hoping for a date?" he said, trying and praying that it didn't come across that it bothered him.

All the while he was hoping that she wouldn't give Richard what he wanted. She gave him an unsure smile.

"He is," she confirmed, "But I don't think I'm ready for that."

Will felt a wave of relief rush over him like sea meeting the sand urgently in a crash of tides.

"It's still too soon for you, isn't it?"

"I'm still trying to process the changes in my life. It's been eight weeks since David told me he wanted a divorce and I moved back home. The past weeks have been a positive change while I have focused on myself for once and I credit that to you and Mia for giving me a purpose. But I have a lot of healing to do before I even consider dating again. There are things…things that will take me a while…before I completely accept them…" she explained.

Nodding his understanding, they both stood from the sofa and he saw her to her car which sat on the driveway. Will waved to her goodbye as she got into her car and drove away and stood in his front doorway until he saw her car disappear from sight. He hadn't noticed that Alice stood behind him with a sad smile etched on her face.

"I've known you for a long time Fitzwilliam," the housekeeper said softly, "And I know that you have feelings for Elizabeth."

Will turned around to face Alice, kicking the door shut with his foot.

"How am I supposed to switch them off? Against my better judgement I've come to feel for her more than what a friend does." He sighed heavily.

Whether Alice had the words or not, Will didn't know. All he knew as Alice hugged him tightly, as a mother would hug her child, that his heart ached when he had to say goodbye to her at the end of the evening and he longed for the moments he could spend in her presence more than he should feel that need. His father's warning was all he had thought about over the weekend and if anything, his unrealised for feelings had only been recognised in that moment. He couldn't date his employee but he couldn't imagine his life without her in it now that the past eight weeks had been made lighter just by her existence and presence in their lives.

"What am I going to do Alice?" Will whispered.

"I don't know, Will, I wish I had the answer you need." Alice whispered back.

With nothing else to say, the two let go of each other and Will headed upstairs and shut himself away in his study, hoping that the paperwork he had brought home from work with him would provide a distraction to the beautiful brunette with stunning green eyes who occupied his mind day and night.

ooOoo

Three minutes. A lot can happen in three minutes. Like the instance of your life changing again when you look at the test to see if there is two little pink lines when you were wishing for only one. At least, that's what George Wickham believed. He had been through this once before and gotten the two pink lines but he hoped this time would be different.

Sat to his left was his current 'girlfriend'. A woman who he cared for but didn't see himself settling down with. Her name was Lindsay Younge and the two had met through a friend of hers at her workplace. They had only been together for six months and now he was sat here silently praying that he wasn't about to father another child he couldn't provide for.

"George, what do we do if it's positive?" Lindsay asked in a scared whisper.

Looking at her with scared eyes, he tucked a lock of loose blonde hair behind her ear and stroked the stray tear away from her brown eyes. Why did she have to go all teary on him? He didn't have the answers that she was looking for. For Christs sake, he'd already left two children behind and hadn't looked back. He couldn't provide for a child. For one thing, he didn't have a career, he flitted from job to job unable to settle down. Currently he worked as a barman doing night shifts in a nightclub and could only just about afford to privately rent a room in a shared house with four other men.

"I don't know Linds. I wish I knew." George sighed, running his hands through his brown hair in disappointment.

"I'm scared." Lindsay whispered, her voice breaking and the tears rolling down her cheeks.

No shit Sherlock. He was frigging petrified. Why did the stupid condom have to break? Why hadn't she gone to the pharmacy like they agreed and bought the morning after pill? Why was he yet again, four years nearly five years on, sat in this exact situation?

"I am too." He said through gritted teeth.

Luckily, Lindsay wasn't focused on his annoyance and frustration. Her hands shakily picked up the pregnancy test from the table and turned it over, letting out a scared sob as she read the result. George looked over and felt his heart sink in his chest.

There were two pink lines staring up at him. Just like the time Jane had discovered that she was pregnant with their children.

The test was positive. Lindsay was pregnant.

George Wickham could become a father again for the third time.

Shit.