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

A/n Nearly over, this was meant to be super short. It was fun. Sorry for not answering the revuews, my life is crazy at this moment.

The Night Before

When Richard went back home, his mother was waiting for him. They had called an early night since William and Georgiana had come to visit. Georgiana curtsied when she saw him, "My Lord," then she jumped on him. Richard twirled her around and teased her.

William seemed at ease, enjoying the visit. Georgiana shared her wedding plans, and they visited for a little while. When they left, Richard's mother sat by him, "Your bride is lovely. The girls talked about her non-stop. I feel guilty for letting Rebeca's cousin take care of them, but I was devastated by the terrible news. When I went to get them, the nurse, who was with Bartlett forever, told me Lettie treated the girls badly. She is a vain, cold woman. The girls say she stinks because she applies a salve; it is made with cow's urine. She says it is to remove her freckles; she only leaves it for a short while, then washes it."

Mother and son laughed together. "I am here and will take care of the twins; my brother's children are my own. I think Lizzie will be a good mother." He sighed.

"You never said, but you must have known her from before. It is clear you care for her. I asked William, but he wasn't very forthcoming. He acted a bit odd." She turned her head, questioning him, trying to find out.

"I danced with her three years ago when he went to help Bingley with an estate he was buying. I must have fallen in love then. You are right; William loves her; he proposed a while after the dance. He told her he was lowering himself, but he loved her, something to that effect. Needless to say, she turned him down. The proposal…" Richard tried to tell his mother all he knew but stopped to look at her. She raised her hand, trying to say something, but started laughing.

Richard grinned; he liked seeing his mother laughing. She was a beautiful woman when she smiled. Finally, she asked, "Did you make that up to make me laugh?"

"No, it is true. I believed it; William is too proud, and only he would do something like that." He chuckled, looking at his mother, drying tears from laughing.

"I asked William if he wanted me to step aside," his mother stopped Richard.

"Son, no, no, please quit being your worst enemy." She wasn't laughing. She narrowed her eyes. "William had his chance, so, please watch out for yourself. Don't ever do such a thing." His mother shook her head. "Your brother said he was the luckiest man alive after Lizzie accepted. He hinted at something about William, and you are going to step aside? How about the girls? They are happy their mommy is Lizzie, and I want her as my daughter." She pouted, dissatisfied.

"Mother, let me finish; luckily, he said no. I also feel like the luckiest man alive. I felt foolish for offering; the pain would have been unbearable." Richard held his mother's hand, who started laughing again.

"Did Lizzie slap him? I would have. Never mind, let's be glad my foolish son didn't throw his happiness away." His mother sighed, content. "I am looking forward to a full nursery."

"Mother, live with us. Please stay in your room; we will make a suite for us. The girls and I want you around. Lizzie thought you might like that better." Richard meant it.

"I will; thanks for the offer, but we will see how it works out." She answered, noncommittal.

Lizzie's Happiness

It was odd, Richard gave her the ring she wore, but she couldn't remember when. It didn't matter. She couldn't wait till the next day. She couldn't stop thinking about the last kiss. She knew he had wanted her. Now, she knew how desire felt; she felt she was melting down there.

When she told Jane, her sister explained more to her. The idea of seeing Richard naked made her dizzy. She hoped he found her appealing. She was slender, and perhaps he wouldn't like that. Honestly, she wished they hadn't been interrupted; but she would be his wife in less than a day. Right at that moment, she was packing. They would stay in London only a couple of days before leaving for the Devonshire. Richard needed to go to take over the multiple ventures his father and brother owned.

Her mother knocked. Lizzie opened the door, "Lizzie, I…" she couldn't say more and broke down crying.

Lizzie was alarmed. Little remained of the old Mrs. Bennet; now, she, Lady Bennet, was quieter. She wasn't handling well Mr. Bennet's cold shoulder. She lived afraid someone would find out about Lydia; it would ruin her other daughters.

Lizzie held her mother's arm and asked her to sit next to her, "What's the matter? Lizzie asked.

"Your father said if anyone finds about Lydia, he cannot stay married to me. He said you deserve a good marriage, and he is worried your fiancé might find out and not marry you. What am I going to do?" She sat on Lizzie's bed, crying.

Lizzie smiled, "Richard knows, and he doesn't care. I will tell my father. Lydia fell on the hands of a bad man, who could have been her father. Quit crying, help me here."

When they were working, her mother stopped and held Lizzie's hand, "My Lizzie, marrying an Earl. My daughters married so well. I know I have been hard with you. It was wrong. You were always a good daughter. I need to tell you about the married bed. It was the best thing about my marriage before your father quit liking me." Her mother didn't advance anything new, other than it was a good thing between married people. It made Lizzie sad that her mother had such a difficult life.

They didn't feel the door opening; two young children came in. "Grandma, Auntie, we're afraid." Lydia's twins ran to them. The boy and the girl climbed on the bed to help.

Lizzie hugged them; she wanted the children to have a good life. Richard said he wanted Lydia to meet his steward. A third or fourth son of a noble, he was a hard worker and single. He assured Lizzie that Lydia could live in a cottage on the estate. The twins deserved a good life. She smiled wistfully at all the children around her, playing with her other children, the ones with Richard.

Tonight when she saw Mr. Darcy, something stirred inside her. She realized she had loved him and how easy it would have been to forgive him if only he had tried. She asked her mother, a little concerned, forgetting Lydia's twins were there. They could talk quite well for their age. "Mom, is it possible to care for two men at the same time?"

Her mother blushed, "It is, it is." Also forgetting, the children were there, although nearly asleep. "I should have told you long ago. I did care for your father and for the Lord who owned an estate near here. He wanted me to go with him, but I love your father. For the longest time, I thought you were his child, and you reminded me of my sin."

Lizzie hugged her mother. What a revelation. Tomorrow she would marry a good man. She knew it would be easy to love him. And tomorrow, she would be free to kiss him as much as she wished and much more. Both her mother and Jane had confirmed they liked the intimacy, and just thinking about it made her want Richard. He was so handsome; her sisters had told her so, and his kisses made her dream.

Wedding Day

Lizzie couldn't sleep. She slept a few hours and woke up at the crack of dawn. Next to her pillow, she found a beautiful small bouquet of fragrant flowers and a wrapped present. She opened it up and quickly packed it in her case, just in time for her mother and sisters to help her get ready. She suspected whose present it was; probably from Jane. The townhouse was bustling with activity, preparing for the reception. Lizzie took a few minutes to see her father. She told him what Richard had said. When his father heard the news, he was relieved.

"Father, please, for me, forgive my mother. According to Richard, George chased every young woman he saw. Lydia had no chance; he was a master. I want you and mother to be happy." She kissed his cheek.

"My Lizzie, my beloved child, I miss you already, I hope you will welcome long-staying visitors. I have a good administrator, so I can visit you often. I will try to forgive your mother because you asked. Now let's get ready to go to your wedding." He caressed her cheek. "You are beautiful and intelligent; Richard is a lucky man."

Lizzie thought, I am the lucky one.

At that very moment, Richard told his valet, his former Sargent, "Tim, I feel the luckiest man alive; I am so very happy."

His valet knew Richard well, "Yes my Lord, I know you are. It is written all over your face. We all wish you the best."

William, Georgiana and her fiancé waited for him with his mother and the girls. Richard could see William had not slept well, but he didn't want to be a hero. He saw his mother's face and grinned. She was shaking her head slightly. He winked at her and grinned. In less than an hour, Elizabeth would be his wife, his lady, and he couldn't wait.

"Let's go, I don't want to be late." Richard said.

The butler came into the room, "Sir, a Miss Bingley says she must see you. It is of the upmost importance. She says it pertains to your wife's family."

Richard suspected what the imprudent woman had to say.

William offered, "Let me get rid of her; the nerve, intruding on your wedding day. I think I know what she has to say, let me get rid of her forever. It will …"

"You can come with me. She needs to hear me out." Richard was annoyed.

Miss Bingley

She was dressed like ready for a ball. When she saw the cousins, she paled, both looked angry.

"My Lord you must hear me before you marry into that family. I had an investigator. The young sister…" She stopped when she saw their angry faces.

"Let me warn you once, if you repeat what you came to tell my cousin, every door will be closed. I will make sure your life is miserable." William looked down on her.

"William, thanks, but I need to add a couple of things, listen well, one word out your mouth, and you need to be afraid. People get murdered in London every day. I mean it, if anything is known, hide well. Now leave; I will make sure your brother knows what you came to do. Leave London before the day is over; it might be a good idea. Now, go, I am getting married today." Richard dismissed her. Miss Bingley looked ready to cry.

Both cousins left the room, said nothing else, but look at each other and grin. William was going to make sure Miss Bingley stayed away. Richard had the right to be happy. Heaven forbid Miss Bingley found out about Georgiana; it couldn't happen. He would make sure it didn't.

Richard's mother asked, "What is going on?"

"Nothing, let's go, shall we? My bride is waiting." Richard started walking toward the door.