The storyline, new character development, new events, and new characters are my intellectual property. Glorioux
a/n Sorry my dears I cannot answer reviews, I tried. i was able to do a couple, but know I get a system error. Remember this is a mystery.
William's surprises
William couldn't stop crying; he felt icy cold, "What am I going to do if she dies? I wouldn't survive it." It was true; he would die as his father did after his mother's death; his father wasted away. After what Miles said, he was scared Lizzie was going to die.
Alexis asked, "Could she be with child? Liza, my sister, was very ill with Elizabeth. She was very weak at birthing." He looked far away and said nothing more.
William was surprised; he welcomed the idea of a child but saw the implications, it was foolish to think she would react well. How to explain it; Lady Mari saw his worried face.
William stood, looking out a window in the small receiving room, Brink had its paws on the window seal, following William's eyes, but he didn't notice. William spotted Miles going around, limping, asking questions. He had been a man blinded by pride, he thought looking at loyal Miles. William remembered.
Miles came to work for him, months before Kent, he was 19 years old; eager to serve. His parents owned a small mill, but Miles, with a damaged leg and other war injuries, could no longer do the hard work harvesting the grain, milling, helping other farmers for extra money, and so on. His family depended on his help as Richard had told him, and in a fit of anger he had, unjustly, docked Miles's salary.
Since the young man forgave him; perhaps, Lizzie would forgive him as well. What kind of man was he before? He questioned himself; no wonder that Lizzie had many reasons never to forgive him. He stopped his thoughts, looking at someone outside.
He saw Miles pointing at someone, William, briefly, saw the back of a woman; she wore a bonnet but blond curls fell down her back, she was talking to two men, probably nothing, Miles said he had seen a couple. He didn't noticed Brink's lip raised with a silent snarl.
Back to his thoughts, maybe Lizzie carried their child, the news were the best and the worst he could think. What to do? Someone tapped his shoulder; he turned around and saw Lady Mari.
She spoke softly, a whisper, "Liza knows. Remember the night, during the dinner with Leonidas, when she noticed the love marks on you chin? When we were alone, I asked her, "Ma chéri, why are you playing such naughty games with William?" Then I asked, "And why haven't you moved into his room." Mari placed her hand on William's arm, at once, he felt calmer; he felt better.
Mari continued, "Liza asked me, "Why should I do such a thing?" I answered, "Liza, you spend every night with him. I have seen you go to his room sans clothes; before dawn he carries you, still nude, back to your bed." At first, Liza didn't believe her, no matter what others had seen and told her they had seen the same. After a while, she said, "I thought I was dreaming. But why hasn't William said something? Since I came back he hasn't tried any closeness. Why?" I told her I had no idea. After talking, Lizzie asked me to stop her unless you spoke to her."
Darcy was distressed, though he wondered who the others were. The fact was that could never do right by her, "She was asleep, sleepwalking. I didn't want her mad at me. I have tried without luck to talk her; how could I have tried to touch her?" His shoulders slumped.
"Liza told me, again, you haven't touched her since she moved into to your room. She said you must not care." Lady Mari grinned, "I recommend you try again. My contraire dear friend is waiting for you." Lady Mari waggled her finger, "Mon cher, try," she said and moved away.
William was surprised, yet sad; he always offended his love. He hadn't touched her because she had clearly stated she only wanted to feel safe, nothing else. How ironic; she was pure temptation, it hadn't been easy to respect her wishes. Lizzie expected the worse from him, with good reason. He still wasn't sure what happened that dreadful morning.
Nevertheless, William went to sit on her bed, "Lizzie, my dearest, what can I do for you? You want some beef tea, a cup of tea, or maybe bread; I will get it for you. The dogs won't mind." He grinned seeing her roll her eyes.
Jane sat by her; her eyes tearing on and off. Jane was as scared as William was; she held Lizzie's hand.
"No, William, don't leave; stay by me. I don't want to be here; I feel something isn't right." Lizzie was pale as a ghost. "I feel safer when you are by me."
"I will stay, but I have a proposal, maybe we can leave, we are not far." William held her hand; she was cold and clammy. His fears came assaulting his thoughts again, like rapid falling rain; maybe she was poisoned after all. His father had said William's mother was poisoned; he'd suspected George's mother. He wanted to be in Pemberley; it would be safer. What Miles had seen didn't bode well, hence, he made a decision, he would talk to Alexis and to Richard, if they were angry, so be it.
Lizzie thought for a moment, "Yes, I like that. May I ride? The carriage makes me ill. I can ride with you, I know how. I prefer to ride like a man; my father taught us; I'll tell you a secret, I always wore britches; I would change at the stable. Jane and I did behind my mother's back. My father told us he knew women who did that. I know which women, my birthmother Liza and others she knew. He also taught us many things, like hunting, fishing, and more. Jane and I dressed differently while we were visiting Russia." Lizzie waited to see how he reacted.
"Of course, you may, but it is cold outside." William thought she would look lovely and was eager to see her. "I think you will look as beautiful as ever." Jane smiled wistfully at his remark.
"I will bundle up, the cold doesn't bother me." Lizzie looked more animated.
"Jane, do you mind if I talk to Lizzie alone?" William asked.
Jane stood up to sit in the suite's small receiving room; the ladies followed her.
The wolfhound put his head on William's leg to stare at Lizzie. Lizzie smiled weakly, "Brink, traitor, you chose him; my uncle said Brink preferred men. But I think otherwise; I know what is going on; I see how William feeds you at the table," she caressed the wolfhound's head.
William grinned, "He is clever, you eat like a sparrow, and Brink knows I have a full plate. My dear, since Jane is gone, I need to tell you what your uncle said. May I?" William dreaded talking to her, but it was past time he did. He took her hand, hoping she would allow him, she did and nodded. Her hand woke his body; images of her body under his or over his assaulted his mind, but, mostly, it made him feel closer to her.
William started, "My dearest love, I have been worrying someone poisoned you since you started to feel ill. After all, your grandparents told me the family has dangerous enemies because of their beliefs, and for not agreeing with their enemies. We also have other enemies as you know; plus Wickham is at large. Though I don't think he will dare to do anything; he knows I will kill him when I see him; Richard and Bartlett have sworn the same. Your father and your uncle Gardiner want to kill him as well. Wickham days are counted."
"Thank you, Jane and I want to do the same; our little Lydia, how could he dare? So what did my uncle say?" Lizzie nodded, eager for him to continue.
"Before I say anything, I must tell you something that happened some weeks ago. I should have told you much earlier, but I was a coward, afraid you would be mad. In my defense, I tried to resist the temptation, but I couldn't." William took a deep breath, he pulled her hand near his lips to draw courage. He noticed Lizzie's eyes fixed on him, waiting; her cheeks were, now, tinted pink.
"A night, after you came back, I was despondent, sad about hurting and losing you, seeing a lonely life ahead of me. I knew it was my fault, nobody else's; I cannot blame anyone for my ill thought actions. I never apologized for my ridiculous and offensive wedding proposal. Frankly, I am deeply ashamed; please forgive me if you can. There is more; maybe, when we are in Pemberley we can talk in length if you wish; there are facts we are looking into." William stopped; he would prefer not to make excuses. He could later tell her what he was investigating with Miles, and tell her how sorry he was about everything. Lizzie nodded, wishing him to continue.
"That night, I went to bed feeling despaired; knowing how much I love you, and you were forever lost. I tried to go to sleep when my room filled with your perfume; with alacrity, I lit the oil lamp. You were on my bed, a vision of beauty. It was you, nude; I looked at you in wonder when I noticed your eyes were closed; you were asleep." He stopped when the small dog, Michou, yapped and moved closer to him, the wolfhound woofed, and the wild cat made an odd sound.
Nina, the cat jumped on the bed next to him and put a paw on his thigh. What is this? Michou, my enemy, sits next me. They agree; maybe, the three are not what they seem, probably fey creatures; the entire group, of the ones from Russia, is something else, William thought looking at the three supporting him. Lizzie hadn't say anything. Daringly, he kissed her hand, it made him braver. She turned her hand, and held his hand as well.
"My love, I tried to resist you, well knowing you would be angry if I took advantage, but I failed. I love you more than life itself; to be honest, I was grateful to take whatever you were willing to give me. This went on for several nights You kept coming to me; no matter how hard I tried to avoid you, you found me wherever I was; and, I kept failing to resist you." He looked at her biting her lip, but her eyes still on him.
"Do you remember when I asked you to lock the door between our rooms, and you were angry? I should have told you then, but I didn't want yo to dislike me more." William saw she had a question.
"I know, someone told me already. But is that what my uncle told you? Did he find out?" Lizzie blushed. "If not, please don't tell him. He he is fond of you and has talked to me more than once about, err, many things; he said one cannot always believe our eyes."
"No, no, he asked me if you could be with child; your mother was very sick when she was carrying you. He was worried since she was ill after she had you. I was concerned you had been poisoned; I told him I would die without you; I would." Darcy wasn't lying. The idea she would die made him want to cry; he couldn't stop a couple of tears running down his cheeks. Lizzie didn't know his father; his uncle and grandfather all died after their wives did; they wasted away.
"A baby? Maybe I will have a baby," she smiled, "it would make me happy." She said nothing about the sleepwalking visits. "If I have a little girl, her name will be Lydia; if twins and one is a boy, I will name him Alexis."
"It would be wondrous, your baby. It would make me more than happy, but I am concerned about your health; I worry." He waited for her anger, but it didn't come, instead she smiled again.
"Bread and beef tea it is. How far are we? I hope we can go home today." She sat straighter. "My uncle might be able to tell if I am having a baby. Later, I will ask him. Please ask a footman to get the tea and beef broth with plenty of bread for Brink and Michou and a bit of milk for Nina. I had noticed how often the deceiving cat slept on your bed, coming back before dawn, and, now, she uses you as a pillow. You also feed her fish, chicken, cheese, and other tasty bits. I can see I need to eat more if I want them to be around me." Michou yapped, jumping on William's lap. The couple grinned after the menagerie made sounds, agreeing with her.
Lizzie started, "When I came to you, err, your room, err;" she stopped; she was not going to say more. William still felt unease, not knowing what she thought, how she felt. Lizzie clicked her tongue, "Even Michou is on your side. No wonder, I see when you feed her cake and biscuits. You shouldn't do it, it is bad for her." Michou growled at Lizzie, jumping on William's shoulder to lick his face, surprising him. Lizzie chuckled, making William happy she could laugh.
"I see Miss Michou, how easy you sell your affection for cake and sweets," Lizzie scolded Michou. The small dog answered by licking William again after woofing once; it sounded like arguing, not playful. Both William and Lizzie shared a laugh; William was certain the menagerie were more than they seemed.
When Jane came back in the room, William prepared to leave. Lizzie shared the news, saying she hoped it was a girl to call her Lydia, but twins are better. "You are lucky married to William who adores you. Our grandparents and uncle like him, but they do will never accept Charles. They are mad at him for asking me to run away. I am glad for you dearest." She kissed Lizzie's cheeks.
William stood away , but his hearing was extraordinarily good. He felt a scratch on his leg, Miss Nasty Michou wanted to be picked up; when he bent to pick her up, she jumped on his shoulder. Strange, as soon as Lizzie was nicer, the nasty critter was also nice. He went to the look out the window, with the animals on tow. Michou growled softly. He knew they wanted to go outside.
William didn't want to intrude more. "Darling, I will walk Brink and Michou, if Nina wants to come she can. I will let get someone to bring you food; but you must eat."
"Don't take long. Please come back quickly." Lizzie asked.
William walked to her bed to touch her face before leaving. Lizzie, surprised him by putting her arms around his neck and kissing his lips. A small kiss, but one that filled him with hope. His eyes looked dazed, making Lady Mari covering her mouth to hide a happy grin. "My dear, I will be back quickly, please have the beef tea, maybe a cup of tea, and a little bread." He wrapped the harnesses around his three wards, smiling all the while, and left. At the door he told the footmen to be watchful. After he passed the guards, he touched his lips and smiled again. Yet, he had a feeling that danger was looming.
After William left, Lizzie told Jane, "Don't give up, look at me; I am working my differences with William." She stopped to smile and saw Lady Mari smiling as well. She kept thinking William had said many times, my love, and I love you; maybe her uncle was right, who knew.
Jane said, "Yes, I saw the kiss; you are lucky; he loves you." Lizzie had never shared with Jane what she saw. She was glad she didn't; her father told her to be discreet. Her uncle also told her the same. Jane thought it was related to Kent.
Lizzie shrugged her shoulders, "I think he does. I will ask him to help, but he might not want to upset our grandparents, or uncle Alexis, who is still cross at your deceit. I think our uncle is scared something could happen to you. I want you to remember, when we were in the dacha, and you met Leonidas. Our uncle told you to stay away from him; he said Leonidas had bad, dangerous friends. But after you accepted Leonidas, uncle Alexis said you had to stand by your word." Lizzie paused and tapped her lip, thinking whether or not she should say something else. Yes, she should; Jane needed to hear from her, because Lizzie didn't think Charles was good for her sister.
a/n oops!