It had been just under two weeks since Clara Anne had arrived at Pemberley, the house was adjusting to its new routine and new resident all that met Clara Anne fell under her spell. Luckily for Darcy Georgiana was still in London with her companion, his family apart from Richard were still blissfully unaware of his daughter and there was still no news on Elizabeth. The bow street runners he had hired had advised him to abandon his search or to travel to Boston to see Mr. and Mrs. Gardnier himself as they still weren't due back for a further six months. It was no small task to organize travel for him, his daughter the multiple servants they would need, but making sure all his stated and business interests would run smoothly in his absence, he also hoped that Richard would join him as he had been to America before. Darcy sat in his study explaining his plans to his daughter discussing the arrangements with Mathew Wickham he had just managed to rock the child to into a peaceful slumber when the commotion began.

The peace and solitude of Pemberley were shattered by the shrieks of Lady Catherine.

"Where is my nephew... Where is my nephew I must see him at once!"

The butler Mr. Smith was well trained in the tactics of Lady Catherine and block her progression through the house followed by two sturdy footmen.

On cue, the small buddle in Darcy's arms wailed loudly she was startled awake by the high pitch screams from the lady in the hallway.

Lady Catherine Gasp at the sound of an infant crying, clearly what young Wickham wrote was true, she had half convinced herself that he was wrong as she traveled to Derbyshire Anne had been feeling unwell so her departure had been delayed but it was never more urgent than ever that her plan succeed. The door from the study opened and her nephew entered the hall carrying a small child he quickly handed the child to the housekeeper before the housekeeper could leave the lady pushed forward to get a better view of the child. There was no mistaking that the child was a Darcy she was the image of her father but had rather large curious brown eyes, where her nephew had bright blue eyes.

"Aunt Catherine, what do I owe the pleasure will you join me in the study I think we would like the privacy"

The footman that shadowed the lady moved back and allowed the lady to follow her nephew without an entourage, he ordered tea from the footman before sitting behind his large desk.

Lady Catherines knew her plan would work, she could tell by the look on her nephew's face that he was already committed to the child this would make it all easier he eyes flicker towards the door where the child's crying could be heard.

"Fitzwilliam, who's is that child ?"

Darcy took a deep breath he knew he would need all her strengths to get through the conversation with her aunt.

"Mine, Aunt Catherine" the was a long pause "Would you like to meet my daughter Clara Anne?"

The lady gasps again and her face paled.

"But you're not married that child can't be yours if it is! It can't be kept at Pemberly it wouldn't be right. I will not allow it!" Stuttered her aunt.

After a brief argument with her aunt, where Darcy told her of his refusal to be parted from his daughter, how could he be parted from her when she was all he had left of his sweet Elizabeth, that he was master of Pemberley, the decision was his. He went on to give her the briefest explanations of how he had the child in his possession he refused to name the mother, stating that she was a gentleman's daughter who he met at a ball who no longer resided in the country. Most of this wasn't a lie but the less the lady knew the better. Lady Catherine was surprised she never would have thought of her nephew as a ladies man sewing his wild oats but it now appeared he had two young ladies in his life, the mother of the child and E.B who continued to write to him. Lady Catherine prided herself as intelligent her knowledge was always correct and she always acted upon it, therefore it was a blessing that she hadn't connected the letters from E.B to Darcys child.

Darcy requested for Mrs. Reynolds to bring Clara Anne to him and allowed his aunt to rock his child while holding the child Lady Catherine played her best wild card yet, breaking down into the best fake tears she could muster, she revealed Anne's plight, that the child would be due soon, that the doctors advised Anne may die. What would she do she would be alone in this world without her darling Anne and unborn grandchild. Playing the sympathy card. In between her tears, she crowed how upsetting it would be to have two illegitimate children in the family, how society would react, that neither child would be able to inherit what was their rightful inheritance as it would be unlawful. At the start of the next phase of her plan, she told Darcy how sweet his daughter was, how she would be a great beauty, how her mother must have been a great beauty too, that it was a shame she would never have one of the great matches expected of the Darcy. That Clara Anne would never be able to be a Darcy and never be excepted in the first circles. That is was disgraceful, she was ashamed of her nephew that this beautiful daughter would pay for her parent's sins.

They both sat for a long time in quiet contemplation, the lady was biding her time while Darcy was lost in his thoughts he had no thought of her future past finding Elizabeth, that he may never find her wasn't an option but how long would that take? Clara Anne would never have the protection of his good Darcy name, never make a good match, of course, he could give her all the money he had but that would not make her acceptable in any good society when Lady Catherine spoke again.

"Fitzwilliam, there may be a way we can help your daughter, but you may have to make a sacrifice for her"

"How" he whispered "Tell me" right there and then Darcy knew he would do anything to give her the best life.

"If you and Clara Anne came back to Rosing with me, you could get a common license and marry Anne within the week"

She paused

"I'm sure we could persuade Mr. Collins, my clergyman, to backdate the wedding by a few months, Anne's child and your daughter would become legitimate once you are both married. We will claim that Anne has given birth to twins, I can persuade the doctor and midwife that Anne has delivered two children I'm sure when you announce it, no one will be the wiser, yours and my staff are Loyal so that won't be a problem. You will gain Rosing as we have always planned, we will have it written into the settlement that if Anne gives birth to a Boy he will gain Rosing on your death so Pemberly will be safe for your own future heir."

Darcy thought about it, there was no other way he could think of to legitimize his daughter Lady Catherine had backed him into a corner, they both knew it. Marrying Anne, wouldn't shock society, the ton was expecting him to thanks to her aunt's wild dreams and loose tongue, His aunts and relatives would spread the gossip that they were passionately in love they were secretly married to avoid the pressure of a ton wedding as they where both reserve and shy in nature, all would be forgiven. They would forgive how quickly their children were born with their marriage, fortune, and good connections.

It was settled, Darcy and his Aunt made the arrangements to leave for Rosing at first light, Mrs. Reynolds a wet nurse, and Richard would follow in a few days time this would allow time for the wedding to take place and Anne to be told she would be Mrs. Darcy of Pemberley. As they traveled to Rosing Darcy wondered if he could grow to love Anne, he would still need a male heir and she would be his wife, the marriage felt like a betrayal to Elizabeth who he truly loved.

When they arrived at Rosing, Darcy couldn't believe how Anne so heavy with the child could stand let alone walk, he requested a private audience with her. Darcy told Anne he didn't judge her that he didn't need to know who the father was. Gaining her trust he went on to tell Anne about Clara Anne, the plan for them to marry to legitimize both their children, and asked her if she was willing to help them. Anne was no longer looking for love after Mr. Wickham, she didn't believe in it or trust her own judgment, she knew Willam to be a good man she was happy to help it was the best solution for them all.

"William I agree it is for the best that we marry and quickly but I couldn't marry you without you knowing who the father is"

Anne went on to tell him about Wickham and her heartbreak she asked in return that he make sure Mr. Wickham would not be welcome at any of their homes. Darcy agreed, that Wickham would be fired and they would marry on the morrow.

As Anne reflected on what the next few days would bring, that she may not survive childbirth she decided it was time to write a letter to her future husband and mother stating her last will she would entrust it to her cousin Richard in case the worst should happen.

The small intimate wedding of Fitzwilliam Darcy and Anne De Bourgh took place in Rosing's private chapel and was only attend by Lady Catherine, Richard, and Mrs. Collins as witnesses.

It was a somber wedding, without the pomp of a wedding breakfast. Lady Catherin insured Mr. Collins backdated the wedding by six months, they all left to return to the main house to congratulate the new Mr. and Mrs. Darcy over a quiet afternoon tea as Mrs. Darcy would need her rest. Their evening meal was a somber affair till Anne stood up to excuse herself, she was sure her time had come, before she could exit the room her water broke. The doctor and midwife were called for, Richard and Darcy sat up all night Lady Catherine attended her daughter's labor. Finally, as the sun was rising the doctor entered the room and asked to speak to Mrs. Darcy's husband, the doctor was sorry to say that Mrs. Darcy had given birth to a baby boy who hadn't drawn a breath, he said the lady herself, had lost a lot of blood, he couldn't stop the bleeding there wasn't anything more he could do for her that his wife hadn't survived the trauma of childbirth. Darcy related the news to Richard. Darcy couldn't believe he had married his cousin to secure his daughter's future only for her to die in childbirth, he knew there was always the risk he only hoped Lady Catherine would still go along with the plan of Anne giving birth to twins and that their arrangement would continue.

Over the past few days he hoped he would have had time in the future to get to know his wife, they had never had a close relationship, not like him and Richard, he hardly knew the women he had married he was saddened by the loss of a family member but that was all. In the parlor, Richard was waiting with their aunt who was unusually quiet, swearing revenge on the bastard who had led Anne to her death when Darcy entered he advise them both that he promised Anne the day before he would perform one more duty for her in case of her death, that he intended to complete the task straight away.