Chapter two:

September 1813 Lambton,

Dear William,

I beg you be not alarmed on receiving this letter, I hope you believe me when I write I had no other choice there was no one else to turn to. I had wished to save you from this distress and shame for a moment I know see as a weakness. The little we know of each other I feel I can trust you to do the right thing and confident enough to leave you with what has become my most treasured possession, our daughter. I have named Clara Anne, she was born on the third day of September eighteen thirteen. I leave her on your doorstep in the hope you can give her the life of a gentlewoman, as your ward.

Darcy quickly did the maths in his head if the child was born in early September then the child would have been conceived at the end of November, the date he had spent with her.

I treasured the stolen moments we had that lead up to our time together in the Library at Netherfield. When you had suddenly left Meryton, I found myself disappointed that you left without a word and ashamed of my own nefarious actions.

When I later found myself to be with a child I felt I was unable to contact you as you had already made your choice clear by leaving me to the consequence of our actions. As you are aware my father has five unwed daughters and an estate entailed on the male line. I have not the fortune of my own and now no virtue therefore I couldn't take the chance of remaining at Longbourn risking my sister's reputations and preventing them from making eligible matches in the future.

I loved you enough that I couldn't take the risk of your choice been taken away and you been forced to marry me by my family or society. I couldn't live with the idea of taking your choice away or you being prevented from what we all consider an excellent match. This way was the only way I could find to prevent my family and your own's ruin.

I was able to seek out relatives in London and gain help from my most trusted aunt. As my uncle had planned to travel to the new world on a business trip, my aunt was able to spread the word that I & Jane had also been invited to join him as a company to my aunt and to seek a new adventure in the new world. My uncle will swear we all traveled with him to a place called Boston when he returns.

As my uncle left for the new world, myself, Jane & my aunt left London, for part of the country where we were unknown. I was able to hide away as I increased till our daughter was born, while the society who knows me believe me to be in the new world on an exciting adventure with relatives with no blemish or scandal on either of our family names.

Circumstance, however, has changed and my plans to have Clara raised by my relatives have become impossible as my uncle's return passage from the new world has been delayed and serval of her ships have been delayed due to the war. Clara would be a burden to my relatives at this time. My aunt who's has her own family to think of especially as my uncle's business in trade is greatly affected by the war with the french. As a mother I can not take the risk with my child's future, after sending you serval letters that have gone unanswered, I can only conclude that you do not wish to be associated with me but I pray you can open your heart to Clara. Considering your means, the life you could give her I felt selfish to keep her and risk poverty. When she could have a life of comfort with you therefore I beg for your help and assistance in recognizing our daughter as your own even if you are ever unable to do so publicly.

My aunts and I believe it would be best to continue with the plan of my seeking work for a gentlewoman and leave for the new world. So it's with a heavy heart that will always be broken. I leave my child with you. I have secured my other treasured possession a garnet cross, I have left this in her cradle so she will know her mother truly loved her.

If things had been different I would never have been parted from her but this decision was made and made for the best. Please do not seek me out and provide the best you can for our daughter. I have full trust in you, may God bless you both. I wish you well.

Yours faithfully

EB—

She had done it. She never would have believed she was able to she had left her daughter on the doorstep of a stranger, hoping for the best. Standing back in the shadows awaiting the gatekeeper to find Clara Anne was an experience of excruciating pain, alternating with numbness especially when her child becomes distressed. Not being able to comfort her was distressing, but this was the future for her. The child would not know the comfort of her true mother's love. As she made the short walk through the woodland to the secluded road where her aunt and the coach waited for her, her arms felt strangely empty.

Elizabeth Bennet had never know guilt like she felt as she sat in the coach and four with her aunt. Joined by her aunt's most trusted coachman they would travel to Derby where Jane waited and they would stay the night. At the inn, they would be Jane and her uncle's manservants ready to begin their trip to Portsmouth and then on to Boston. Elizabeth had wanted to be alone and spend the last few moments with her daughter but her aunt would not allow her to go through the plan on her own as she knew of the pain It would cause any mother to leave their child.

The loss of her daughter's weight and warmness would forever haunt her. She could only hope Clara would have been taken to the main house by now and William would have received her letter that he would provide for their daughter. She hoped her daughter would forever be secure and would be loved.

A shiver was sent down her spine as she remembered the night if it could be called that which she spent with William she had been a maiden before she had never known to expect such pleasure from being with a man, not realizing where kisses lead to and she had been truly swept away before it was too late to claim her virtue back. Elizabeth Bennet was utterly ruined.

When the married ladies Meryton had talked about relations with their husbands it has always been describing as the most unpleasant duty, but this was not her experience William was loving and kind. As Elizabeth knew Darcy could be loving and kind so she tried to put the worry out of her mind, she had to be strong and move on for all their sakes so they could all have better futures. At that moment they arrived at the inn where Jane was waiting, as she was embraced by her sister she was washed over with love that overwhelmed her and made her feel safe.

Darcy stood frozen clutching the letter in hand he had no doubts of the content of the letter where true he had spent the past nine months reliving and dreaming about that night with her. He had not received any of the letters she had sent, why hadn't he where had she sent them surely she would have sent them to Pemberley. The Netherfield ball on the twenty-six day of November eighteen twelve was like no other ball Darcy had attended, he was enjoying for the first time the company of a young lady. An attractive young lady with fine eyes and an intelligent wit he found most charming. Earlier in their acquaintance, he had made a grievous error of insulting her and was forced to apologize. Once he had taken the time to acquaint himself with the lady he had found himself completely and utterly lost to her, no one else would do. When they danced he felt the current charge through his body he knew he wouldn't be able to spend his life without Elizabeth Bennet by his side. Darcy was awoken from his daydream by the colonel "Darcy what does it say who's the child" slowly he handed the letter over and whispered, "She is my child".