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

a/n Back to our coupłe. it appears Caroline has taken a bad turn. For those reading Risks and Gains, there will be more, but it might be in another form. Right now, I need to finish the other stories.

The morning after

In the morning time, Lizzie woke up, she was using William's body as a pillow. Her hand moved along his body. It felt right. She was looking at her husband, remembering the night before, she smiled. Richard was right, Darcy made her feel loved. She kissed his chest and caressed him, he smelled good.

Elizabeth thought of waking him up; sh wanted his love and caresses. She was happy until she remembered Miss Bingley's intrusion, and her stomach cramped. Elizabeth felt ill, the idea that the woman saw her loving her husband made her sick. Even worse was the anger that she had seen her husband undressed, Miss Bingley had no right.

The baby kicked, and she felt better. What she needed was fresh air. She leaned, kissed William's cheek, then a kiss close to his lips, but he was out. Time to get up, she stood up.

The fireplace was out, she remembered to will the fire on. She took a shawl she had by the bed, got up, and looked around the room, the two dogs stood up and greeted her.

The puppy was well behaved, but Thor moved next to her and jumped on her leg. "I would like to pick you up, but you are too heavy." She petted both dogs, they licked her, and she went into the dressing room to get ready. She wore a coat with a fur lining, one of the gifts inside the chest. She wore the matching gloves and picked a bonnet.

Lizzie open the room's door, the hawk flew right behind her, and the dogs followed. She went down the stairs to go for a walk, but before she reached the front door, Hurst reached her.

"Mrs. Darcy, I have been up for a while. May I join you?" The dogs greeted him like an old friend. He crouched and petted them.

"Please, I would like that." Elizabeth was happy to have company. Hurst didn't add that he didn't trust Caroline.

Hurst offered his arm, and they left. The air was a little chilly, but just right.

Darcy woke up but didn't open his eyes. He wanted to stay in bed and kiss Lizzie all over, wanting to taste her skin. Darcy wanted to pick up where they left it the night before. He reached for her, opening his eyes. He sighed when he didn't see Lizzie and went into the dressing room to get ready.

He heard someone come in and thought it was Lizzie, so he bent to pick up his trousers. "Darling, where..." He didn't finish his sentence; his face turned hard when he saw who stood there; it was Caroline.

At once, he put his trousers on, feeling her eyes on him. He was going to hurt her, anger bubbled up. This made twice she had seen him undressed.

"Leave this room now. Your brother..."

"Let me talk, I can be your mistress..." she tried to tell him, but he stopped her.

He stood up tall, "What you should do, is leave right this second. I forbid you to address me again. You are mad," he wanted to say more but restricted himself.

She kept walking towards him, intent on seducing him. It was as if something had woken inside her.

Darcy was going to get her out of the room. If anyone saw her, not only she would be ruined; but what if his wife thought he had encouraged Miss Bingley. Now that he had been with Lizzie, he never wanted to be without her; it would destroy him.

Someone else came into the room, Jak. Darcy saw him; now, he could breathe better.

"He is married, you need to leave him alone. This is the last warning." Jak snapped.

"He invited me in." Caroline lied, her face flushed.

"He didn't, last night and now this. I don't understand it; you need to stop. William, we must talk to her brother, or we must go," Jak was by Miss Bingley. He took her arm.

"Come with me," Jak ordered. She obeyed, Jak was controlling her. He was afraid the enemy might have found William. But he felt nothing, other than an unbalanced female. He remembered how the enemy worker; this woman was a liability.

When she left, Darcy ran his hands thru his messy hair. Jak was right. He needed to tell Charles somehow.

He went down the steps, Jak joined him on the way down. They had visitors, Elizabeth had met them on her way in, her father, Jane, and Mary.

Elizabeth saw her husband's troubled face and worried. But smiled when the dogs ran to greet him. The hawk flew in, right behind her.

"Lizzie your hawk came in," Mary looked a little afraid but was used to her sister and the birds.

"I know. Don't be afraid, the hawk won't hurt you."

Her father hugged her, "We are going back with you, I will tell you more," he whispered.

She introduced William and Jak. "Let's have breakfast," Hurst suggested. He could sense something else had happened.

Darcy hoped to have more help. He wanted to make sure neither Bartlett nor Miss Bingley could cause more problems.

While they were eating, "Sir, your steward has arrived," he told Darcy.

"Please bring him in."

Darcy stood to greet George Wickham, his right hand. He had changed much since the time they nearly drowned. Risking his life to save William, had changed his life. Afterward, Wickham changed for the best. He had received a gift, his mind was clear, the envy and anger he used to feel were gone. He had completed his studies, but Darcy asked him to postpone taking his place as a Vicar to help him.

William excused himself, Elizabeth could see his troubled mien. While he was gone, Charles came down.

"Miss Bennet, what a surprise," Charles smiled from ear to ear. Jane greeted him cordially, but looked at Lizzie, as if saying, remember him?

"Mr. Bingley," she greeted and smiled until the two Bingley sisters entered the room.

Darcy explained to Wickham about Bartlett. It came as no surprise. "Bartlett often bragged that one day Richard's wife would be his. Richard came to see me some months ago. He asked me to check a few things for him. But that situation with Miss Bingley, you must be careful. I will be watching her. We can talk later; I brought the pistols as you asked. Your Scottish cousins are also here. They will pose as footmen so they can move freely."

When they went back into the room, they heard Miss Bingley, "My, my, a house full, Charles, you hadn't told us we were expecting so many guests."

Darcy could see Elizabeth's sisters blushing.

"Charles told me I was free to have guests. If he has something to say, then we can leave today. Once I talk to him about some new matters." Darcy's tone was curt.

For once, Bingley intervened. "Caroline, if anybody is leaving, is you. Please take your breakfast later," he saw Louisa whispering, "that also goes for you, Louisa."

Caroline left the room, but not before giving Elizabeth a nasty look. The dogs stood up to growl and practically chased the sisters out of the room.

The atmosphere was tense. Darcy heard in his head, "You must tell your friend. I don't like this situation. Your lady doesn't need this."

Hurst was making small talk, trying to lighten the atmosphere. Charles did as well, suspecting something had happened. Now, with Miss Bennet in here, he wished he had the guts to send Caroline away, he had noticed Miss Jane's eyes looking at his sisters.

George had a bad feeling. He had met Mrs. Darcy before, a beautiful lady; she didn't need this grief. Wickham admired her sisters. They might do; he wanted a wife, but they were gentry. On the other hand, he was well off and had a position with a well-appointed home.

William saw George looking, caught his eye, and both grinned.

Mary and Jane tried to entice Thor, the puppy. No, it sat behind Lizzie's chair, looking at her.

After breakfast, Darcy looked at Charles, "Let's talk. We can be reviewing the documents, but I like to see you with Jak and Hurst.

They closed the door to the library and sat down.

Charles was apprehensive, Darcy wasn't sure how to tell him, nor how much.

Hurst intervened, he told Charles about Caroline looking into the room when William was with his wife. Charles blushed. "Maybe it is a misunderstanding. Caroline is an innocent."

"That might be, but I saw her."

"This cannot be tolerated. That is not all, this morning," Darcy didn't know how to say it.

Jak continued, "I saw the door ajar, William was just getting dressed. Your sister was in his room, uninvited and refused to leave. He told her, clearly, to leave."

"What can I do?" Charles looked lost. Whereas he had always been afraid of his sisters, he felt responsible for them.

"My wife doesn't need this."

"I will talk to Caroline, but it is difficult, how?"

"She is your sister, your job. Next time, we will leave, it is too much."

Hurst told Charles, "Caroline ruined my marriage. Your sister doesn't allow intimacy between Louisa, convening my wife to deny me. I am not sure that she is that innocent. Send them to London. I notice how your 'angel' cringed, you will never have her as long as Caroline is allowed to run wild. I am leaving in the next days. I will see my solicitors, I want to dissolve the marriage."

"The Bennet sisters, you might not know, but they have a good dowry and have money of their own. I would watch out." Darcy told him.

Charles had no idea how to talk about such delicate manners with his sister, but he needed Darcy's help, and he wanted Miss Jane.

Jak had advice, "Just tell her that you know what she was doing last night. What you decide to do afterward is your call. I am here to look after my cousin and his lady. Their well-being and safety is my only wish. Be warned that I will be forceful next time. Several members of my family have met untimely deaths, so I take any threat with concern."

What Charles saw in Jak's eyes scared him.

The Enemy

Outside of Netherfield, a shadow appeared, then it changed into an animal. It sniffed the air, it made an angry noise. It paid to spy, news that Jak had entered these lands had arrived. Others have heard the nasty remarks the day before. There was one concern who else was here. Maybe it was true, a daughter of the dangerous and powerful Lord was here. That could present a problem, what if he were watching. Many lives had ended for less.

Taking Jak's sister had already been a risk. What to do? Killing her descendants had not been too hard, but now her descendants' presence was known. The attempt to drown the male had been a disaster, it made the Lord aware that Jak's sister had lived.

Too bad the time ran so different, and finding an entrance was difficult. Passages were controlled, and getting caught was not an option, but neither was Jak's family's happiness. They had to be punished. That family should have belonged to the enemy. For now, the male, the one that didn't drown, needed to die.

The animal sniffed the ground, looking at all the birds around. Too many for the cold weather.

But what if it were true that the daughter of the ruler had married one of Jak's family? If so, the union must be ended. Hopefully, it wasn't right. But the Lord's daughter wouldn't be here, not possible.

The animal looked at the area carefully; it smelled canines, which was another problem. Canines were alert and not easily fooled.

The Father

He wanted his daughter to go back; there were even more dangers in the friend's home. He wanted her safe. Presently, he was happy, his daughter was much more than he expected. He remembered what his father had said, "We haven't had any females for a very long time. I love my sons, but I so wished for a daughter. Our daughters bring us happiness, it is part of who we are." His father was right; thus, he needed to make sure nothing happen to Elizabeth. His parents would rejoice, many would.

She was content with her husband, a good match. But her husband needed to come into his true self. Jak was right, the enemy would come back sooner or later. Since he had the accident in the river, William had been protected until he went across the water. The young male, George, was with him. George watched over William, he had a gift to know when there was danger. Now he was with William again, all was well.

Elizabeth sat to talk to Jane while Mary sat down to read. Darcy was with Charles going over the books.

"Father is asking for a divorce, we think Mother was entertaining men. "

Elizabeth paled, "But that could ruin us."

"Father said if what she was doing was known, we would be ruined for sure. We are coming to stay with you. I like that, "Jane held Elizabeth's hand, "are you well, I mean with Mr. Darcy."

"Call him William. It is his name, he is your brother. Yes, I am well. At first, I found him too proud, but I have changed my mind." She blushed, "He is kind and cares for me. As I wrote to you, Richard wanted me to marry William; he was right, William is a good man."

They talked more, avoiding talking about the Bingley sisters. Until Lizzie told her about the puppy destroying Caroline's dress. Both had a fit of giggles, "Good boy, "Jane said.

"Lizzie," she lowered her voice, "there is more. A Colonel, Mother's friend, talked to me last week while I was in Meryton. He said he wanted to meet me. This is awful, he said he is my father. He is married, but he didn't know about me. Last year, at a ball, he recognized me. He says I look like his mother. He has no daughters, and his sons died of a fever. He wants me to meet his mother and get to know me better. I don't want to." Jane was controlling her tears.

"You don't have to. You have a father who loves you, ignore him. Tell our father. Father can say the Colonel is lying." Elizabeth was sad to see her sisters' pain. She wanted to protect them. "I found out that I was adopted. In my case, I am lucky to know my mother is my aunt. She was very young, aunt Penny. I have two fathers, I am lucky, both are wonderful. I care about both, it is possible. As for you, do whatever your heart tells you."

Elizabeth's words soothed Jane, but, "Wait, there is something else, I heard our parents arguing. I opened my room door and saw the Colonel running out mother's room. He visits her at our home." Jane's voice was shaky.

Elizabeth's anger flared, Warrior sitting with his head on her lap growled, the puppy had the paws on her legs, they could feel her distress. Thor jumped on the couch, next to Jane, and licked her limp hand. Jane smiled, "Hello there," for a second, her sorrow forgotten.

"You won't be there much longer. Father won't let more bad things happen."

Mary moved to sit next to Jane. The three sat next to each other, "Jane, don't be sad. We are leaving," she talked softly, "I known for long, Mother has done much wrong."

Elizabeth was glad Mr. Bennet was leaving but wished that Mrs. Bennet would care about her daughters. She wasn't the only one who thought that way. That night Mrs. Bennet would have a visitor who would scare her into never risking a scandal.

Right now she wanted a nap. She smiled inwardly, maybe William would come and join her. William had made her feel special.

"I am very tired, I will be going to take a long nap."

Darcy couldn't concentrate, he wanted to be with his wife. "Charles, I want to take a break. I am tired from the travel." When he went to look for her, he found out that she was in their room, just perfect. He hurried to be with her, with his Lizzie.