Chapter Twenty Three:

Elizabeth Bennet took her time as she walked back to Hunsford parsonage, she needed a little time to build up her courage, she knew it was time, to be honest with her papa and she knew it would be a relief to her but she didn't know how he would react to her confession, She worried he would not support her marriage to Darcy and worried he would reject her and her daughter, it would be refreshing to be able to claim her child as her own in a public setting and not having to be so guarded always around Catherine Anne. As Mr. Darcy's wife, she would be able to be the mother to her most beloved child. The three of them could finally be the family she had always dreamed of and maybe there would even be more children.

This was the only secret she had ever kept from him his whole life, her papa had been her best friend they had shared the same wit and intelligence they both enjoyed the follies of others. Elizabeth had known that if her father had found out about her child he would be left with no choice but to disown her he may even send her away to some remote place like Scotland and then what would happen to them both? she knew her father would have no choice he had his other children's future to think of and peacefully she could understand that. This child of hers and Mr. Darcy was too important to take any risk, what if she told her Papa and he sent her away and then Darcy arrived back for her would he be able to find her? At the time she had believed that Darcy would come back she spent days standing in the drawing-room watching the graveled drive of Longbourne watching for men who in reality would never come. After two months Elizabeth knew she had no more time to wait for Mr. Darcy and decided to reach out to her aunt and confess her situation to her most beloved sister Jane within a few days they had received a fake invitation from her aunt their bags were packed and they were off to London.

When they arrived at Gracechurch street they were welcomed by a very understanding and kind Aunt and Uncle Gardiner, she had given them the briefest explanation of her situation in the letter she had written them begging their help which had been answered quickly with her uncle sending his coach to them the very next day.

Elizabeth poured out her soul and shame to them as her teary-eyed sister held her hand. Her aunt and uncle's reaction was far kinder than she could have ever hoped for, her uncle embraced her until she had stopped sobbing and then spoke softly to her.

"Lizzie I won't pretend I am not disappointed because I am, I could have excepted this more of your younger sisters but not of you my dear girl. I have always known you to be sensible and I know you were aware of the risk of being alone with a man before marriage and not just to your reputation. Tell me have you written to this Mr. Darcy?"

She nodded and took a deep breath, she couldn't quite believe that he had used her so ill, that she had been taken in by a handsome rack, she was angry at herself for believing his lies of love and a future together a future where she was Mrs. Darcy of Pemberly Derbyshire.

"Serval time and not one response." she shamefully looked at the floor.

Her uncle looked at her with true sorrow in his eyes,

"Well as your young man, hasn't taken the opportunity to fix her error, I believe we should put the plane myself and your aunt have concluded into action. I am so sorry Lizzie that Mr. Darcy has abandoned you but we must do what is now best for you and your future life and that of the babe you carry" replied her uncle. "The child father may own half of Derbyshire but unfortunately, the babe will never be legitimate and we conclude it would be best for the babe if the babe is claimed by a family who will love it and give it a stable life"

Elizabeth started to panic they wanted to give her child away her eyes darted towards the door. Mr. Gardiner had noticed the panic in his niece's eyes and quickly explained his plans further.

"Your aunt and I will keep the babe and raise them at our own child, this way you will still have a relationship with the babe as a cousin not as their mother,"

"Lizzie we will welcome you any time you wish to see your child" her aunt walked over to her "I know as a mother this will be one of the hardest things you do dear, but I truly believe it is for the best for both you and the babe"

"Aunt if I can't be my child's mothers, I am so glad it will be you I could think of no one better than you to raise them, I am so grateful you will do this for me" she cried softly

The plan was simple in many ways, Mr. Gardiner would continue as planned with his trip to America, his wife, and their nieces would pretend they had also joined him. The three ladies would also leave Gracechurch street the same day and travel to a place in the country where they wouldn't know till the babe was born and could be passed off as the latest Gardnier child. Once the child had safely been delivered the ladies and the babe would be returned to Grace church street to the care of the nursemaid under the pretense of the child been born Portsmouth as Mrs. Gardner was eager to deliver her child on British soil, the lady of the house would then at a suitable time be joined by her husband who had taken a passage from America after her and their nieces as he had unfinished business.

Like all the best-laid plans this one went askew when a letter arrived from her uncle his business dealing had been delayed and weren't going as well as he had hoped his return their for would be delayed by many months there was also the worry of the financial impact this delay would have on his business and his family's fortune. Elizabeths in all good conscious could not allow her most dear uncle and aunt who had cared for her in her most fragile time of need take on this extra burden of her child especially when she considered how rich the father was rumored to be. This was when Elizabeth had decided to put the last of her remaining faith in Mr. Darcy and leave their child at Pemberly.

Uncle Gardiner had arranged and rented a small farmhouse for them not ten miles from Lambton It was also only fifteen miles from Pemberly Mr. Darcys estate. Mrs. Gardiener originally hailed from Lambton and Mr. Gardiner knew his wife was known and could seek help if she ever needed it but it was reclusive enough that the three women and their most trusted staff could see out Elizabeth's confinement without gaining to much notices or any visitors. There was plenty of lanes for walking but due to the hot weather, the women mainly stayed indoor to prepare for the birth.

On the tenths day of September Lizzie's labor started, the birth of her child was Long and very difficult but her aunt and Jane had remained with her the whole time, with soothing words and cold clothes. Once their child had been placed in her arms there was a deep instant connection, a love that would never be broken she knew there, and then she would do whatever it would take for her daughter to have the best possible life she could and she realized that that life was not with her mother. Elizabeth had nursed and cared for her child for a little over a week before the plan could be put in place and arrangement for her own future could be made, she was remembering the earth-shattering heartbreak of leaving her daughter when she heard her name been called.

"Lizzie, Lizzie"