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

A/N I don't advocate infidelity, nor abuse. i am not afraid to disclose I am an abuse victim; why should I think abuse is something good? For those that know my writing style, they should know that. This story is Romance and Mystery. Since the first second, Darcy seemed confused. Maybe he is being gaslighted? Shall we see? I always leave a few clues. Well, honestly, I like to ruffle a few feathers. I will confess something; I would never marry someone who told me I wasn't good enough. So, in this story, I decided Darcy needed to suffer a bit.

The Dreams and Reality

A Late Talk

William was sad; Lizzie might have come, but the reality was that she had every reason to dislike him, even to hate him. He was an imbecile at Kent; he often had nightmares about that day; followed by a knife on Lizzie's back, the day she found him on the bed with the woman. what he wanted was to ask someone what to do if she came back. He had been told waking up a sleepwalker was dangerous; he just didn't know what to do. First, he talked to his valet, asking him if he knew who had let the woman in. What the valet revealed surprised him. He should have allowed his valet to talk long before; his damn pride was going to destroy him. Perhaps it would have exonerated him; he was a proud peacock, just as foolish.

"Sir, I don't know. I am sorry, but that night I fell asleep after I went to ready your bed. I woke up on my room' floor, early morning. When I came into your room, that woman was in your bed. She stared and smiled. You were sound asleep. Before you ask, I don't drink; odd, I was tired, and my mind wasn't right for a couple of days." Miles, his valet explained, hesitating. "Sir, may I tell you something of a very personal nature about that day? Something I saw, but I don't wish to offend you."

"Please do so. You won't offend me," Darcy was intrigued.

"I was gone but a few minutes; as I said, you were deep asleep when I came into your room before. I heard your Lady; I was right behind her. From where I stood at first, it looked as if you're, ahem, sorry, in the woman's back entrance, but you weren't, ahem, weren't, ahem, sorry sir, but you didn't even have a cock stand; your, err, was limp; i saw that one second before your lady said something." The valet was red as a beet. He grimaced and cringed, he was afraid, ready for the explosion.

"No need to fear, continue," Darcy said, something jiggled inside, almost coming loose.

"At first, you looked as if you were falling, like she was holding you up before you open your eyes. I heard the woman laughing, saying she was an actress. When Rosie cleaned your bed, she told me the sheets were pristine clean. I don't want to be rude. She said the sheets smelled of the woman's perfume but nothing else, do you understand my meaning? I don't know how, but you've duped. I wanted to say something and you would not let me talk." The valet could not look at Darcy.

"It could be; I told Richard it was strange, it felt as if Lizzie had woken me up. But I was with the woman, no sense in denying it. That leaves questions unanswered, how did Beverly know my wife had arrived? Because it would have to be staged. Moreover, how did she know Lizzie was coming that day? Then someone must have seen the carriage arrive. Think, was there someone else in my room or my wife's room? See who was on the floor at that time, maybe a footman, or maybe more than one. If whoever are still here, I will fire them. Make sure you don't repeat this to anyone. I think Beverly worked in some kind of magical act. I don't know exactly where." William knew something, he had been stuck to Beverly, but not in, at least not when he pushed her away. The memories were still hazy. If he had explained this to Lizzie, she would never believe it. This was all his fault for not ensuring the woman had left London.

"I need you to find out who let her in. Check discretely, she must someone, as I said, maybe more than one, in the house. While everything is possible, I never heard of something like this. Though my father believed there were people with powers we couldn't understand; I don't know. I apologize for blaming you and docking your pay. I'll make sure you are paid the missing money; no, I'll do better, I'll ask my secretary to give you a half year's pay. I was unfair." When William finished his speech, the valet blinked; he was shell-shocked. His boss, who was so proud, apologized. m

The valet had fought in the war against the French; his commander was the newly promoted General Fitzwilliams. He was a good man; he had found jobs for all those wounded who could no longer work in their farms. He had his parents' servants train them for the new jobs. Last week after the mistress incident, the General asked him to stay with his cousin; so he stayed, finding a job wasn't so easy when you had a lame leg, and a body full of shrapnel. The General also paid him his salary.

"Sir, it is very generous of you, but I have you know your cousin, General Fitzwilliams already paid me the docked pay, at least that month." Miles, the valet responded. "I tried to tell you that I had just been in your room and was bringing your morning tea when your lady wife opened the door. I was too far to stop her; I ran behind her. I wanted to tell you what I saw. Sorry, sir."

William could see how Richard, even when angry with him, still cared. "No, my offer stands. I expect your discretion. If you have someone else in my service you trust have them help you. I will pay them well, feel free to tell those who help. Use your money for your family in the country; it is near the Holiday Season."

William was troubled at the valet's revelations. Probably Richard was aware of some, maybe, though Miles was discretion itself. He needed to be observant, no harm should come to Lizzie. He would alert her footmen and her lady's maid; though he wished he could tell Lizzie. His father lived by a strict code, so did his cousins, he would be disappointed with this situation. William was remembering something off, but was not sure exactly what it was.

The next night he waited till the house was quiet to go up to the room. He peeked into Lizzie's room; all was quiet. The cat saw him, jumped out her bed and followed him. He wished to lock the door, but he wasn't sure how she would react. She liked the door ajar; she had said so. That night he sat on the recamier, partly dressed, but he fell asleep; the wolfhound and the cat jumped on the bed after laying on the floor.

Lizzie's Dreams

In her dream she smiled. There was much about her William didn't know, it was best that way. She could be a silent as a night creature, indeed; she chuckled at that thought. Last night, she was on his bed before he had time to stop her. She went into his room and saw him dressed, asleep on the recamier. She dropped her dressing gown, and expertly started undressing him. Things were easy for her

William opened his eyes, heavy with sleep. Lizzie was busy undressing him; she was naked again, her hair down her back. She was beautiful, desire itself. He wasn't sure how she had managed to lower his trousers; she was kissing his belly before he could react. He pushed her gently, "My love, go back to your room. I will walk you."

"No, I want you; I am your wife; it is my right;" Lizzie's voice was clear; for a moment, he thought she was awake. Lizzie wasn't; her eyes were closed.

"It is your right, but it is best if you go back to your bed." William tried again. She shook her head, chuckled, and kissed him all over. He didn't know a wife would do that, she was copying him; he wasn't made of stone; soon, they were kissing wildly. He kept telling her how much he loved her. As the day before, the three animals sat around. Once again, she finally went to sleep. He cleaned her and took her back. This time he was certain someone stood by the receiving room. It must have been Lady Mari. it reminded him of something, a lost memory.

Lizzie came on and off for the next days, three more times; once she came into his office; he was sleeping on the sofa. He figured out she wouldn't find him there. When he took her back, wrapped in a shawl and her dressing gown, he saw two footmen posted at his office's door. They said nothing, just followed them with the animals, and opened the bedrooml door for him.

William knew it had gone way too long, so he approached her. She sat with Lady Mari, "My dear, I want to lock the door between our rooms. I think you would feel safer. Maybe is best all the doors to your room are locked."

Elizabeth narrowed her eyes, angrily, "What if something should happen to me? My grandparents say we have enemies. Though I am your wife, I don't share your bed as I should; you know why. My uncle says in Russia spouses sleep together. Indeed, maybe I should move into your room; I think I might." She tapped her foot angrily. "I don't want someone trying to hurt me; the least you could do is to protect me." William saw Lady Mari, covering her mouth to hide a smile. "Yes, I might move into my rightful place tonight."

"You should only do it if that is what you wish. I would welcome it." William didn't want to add to the problem. He was certain she would hate him.

"I will think about it; it is my right." She stood up, defiantly.

He heard lady Mari's soft laughter; she looked quite amused; William wondered if she knew something he didn't; he wanted to ask.

"You cannot stop me if I choose to sleep on my rightful bed. Now, leave." She pointed her finger at the door. Mari was laughing when he left.

When he left Lizzie asked Mari why did she laugh, "You know, naughty kitten." And left it at that.

Lizzie grinned, "Yes, he needs to know I do as I wish."

Mari agreed, but maybe Lizzie didn't understand Mari.

He consulted about sleepwalking with his physician; who told William you should never awake a sleepwalker, they might have apoplexy. He had no one to ask; not Richard, he would think he was dishonorable. Besides Richard was already mad at him. He wanted to tell him what the valet said, but Richard would laugh at the flimsy excuse; he was on this alone.

She still came at night. He had tried several tactics, besides barring the door or using physical force. Every time, he had tried to convince Lizzie to go back to her room with zero success. She was temptation, assertive, wanting him; she was one he couldn't resist. He was afraid of her reaction if he should say something. Perhaps he was hoping this would change everything for the best.

Reality

Several days she woke up wanting to be in William's bed. She looked in the room, he had changed everything; it was a room she would had decorated herself. It was no longer a bachelor's room. Strangely, it was the room of her dreams; the dreams made her blush. Last night she had missed him down there. She knew the name; she had learned much. Her grandmother laughed and teased her, telling her love with your spouse was glorious. Between her and Mari she had learned much. Mari was married but her husband was very jealous and had died in a duel. She had told her about what Lizzie had dreamed, laughing Mari shared that she liked it as much as her husband did. That morning she could smell William on her hands; it always happened after the dreams. Maybe she imagined it; but it made her wish it was real, but only if he asked for forgiveness. She was confused.

He longed to take her in his arms, while she was awake, to tell her how much he loved her, and how sorry he was for hurting her. He wanted to say he had been a fool at Kent; he wanted to tell her he was nothing without her. He had tried to talk to her, but she always gave him the cold shoulder, and he couldn't talk to her in front of everyone, though maybe he should. Why not, they probably knew everything he had done to hurt her. He decided he might just talk to her in front of whoever was around.

What could he do if the mad woman came and lied more?

On the other hand, his mind was full of replays of their encounters; he would start breathing heavy, recalling their nights. It was harder than ever to see her coldness and disdain. He would recall her naked skin against his, moving his hands over her bum, sliding his finger along her slick labia, slowly reaching inside her. He remembered her hands on his body, learning quickly. He could feel her skin against his lips and every detail; but what he wanted more than her body, was her love.

The valet came to talk to him several times. William was surprised to find out Beverly was from a town near Pemberley; she had lied about that. He had met her thru an acquaintance; she had just finished a contract. She had relatives that had lived in the place where she lived, the place he had paid for; that was news to him. After she was let go, some said she was with a foreigner. One of the footmen said she looked familiar but couldn't place her. Nobody knew who let her in when she came that night. His valet said she must come close or after midnight.

William needed Richard's help. He knew Lizzie's grandparents were very wealthy. Richard had confirmed that. The grandmother came from a Prussian family; her father had been a prince. They knew little; as for Lizzie, she was never forthcoming about her time away, neither was Jane. What if Beverly was now with an enemy of Lizzie's family?

He was deep in thought he saw Lizzie, she was at his office with Lady Mari, "Mari says she saw that woman walking near here, when she was out for a stroll with her friend. Jane and I were with the French tutor. She was with the woman from the other day, and a gentleman they couldn't see well. Mari and her friend tried to follow her, but lost her in a crowd. You must do something about it. "

"She was told to leave London. Please don't be alone when you go out. I am so…" He couldn't finish because she left and slammed the door. William leaned on his chair and covered his face with his hands. This would never end; he didn't know what to do; why was this happening? Maybe Richard was right, he had told him a couple days before to send someone to 'take care' of Beverly; when she was found.

He wanted to be her 'real' husband. No like now, when he accompanied her to balls or gatherings, she was polite, playing the wife's role; it was killing him. How he wanted what happened, the things she told him, to be the reality when she was awake.

a/n Now you know a little more. The story is all written. Not all is as it seems.