Notes: Today I was busy finishing some simulations, and I had very little time to write/translate. Let me know the grammar mistakes :)

September 1816

In early September 1816, he went to London for a few days exclusively to attend a ceremony in Richard's honor. For his bravery at Waterloo and his services to the Kingdom, he was awarded a baronetcy along with 5000 pounds.

Two days later, Darcy went with Richard to White's to celebrate and some gentlemen invited them to Madame Dupree's establishment as they were to 'introduce' some new girls that night. At first, he refused since the last time he was in the establishment the experience had not been pleasant, but at the insistence of his acquaintances and even Richard, he finally agreed.

Madame Dupree greeted them warmly and led them into a private room where there were five young women who were starting work in the establishment that night. One of them caught Darcy's attention as she was the daughter of a minor gentleman who lived only 10 miles from Pemberley. He knew the young woman had fled a few years ago and had married a soldier...

Darcy never knew exactly why he decided to spend the night with her, maybe it was because in the past he liked her physically, or because he was curious to know why she was in that establishment…

PPP

Since her husband's death in Waterloo, Margareth Smith's life had not been easy, since the pension she received from her husband's death, added to the little money she earned helping a dressmaker, was barely enough to cover her expenses and those of her little daughter. The girl was two years old and was born prematurely and had some respiratory problems. Little by little her daughter was improving, but she had to spend her few savings and even be intimate with three men to pay for the doctor's bill and medicine.

Madame Dupree escorted them to one of the better bedchambers and left them alone. Darcy offered her a glass of wine and asked, "Mrs. Smith, I am very surprised to meet you in this place", he looked at her carefully, "does anyone in your family know that you are here?"

She looked at him with a sad smile, "The only family I have, Mr. Darcy, is my daughter. My husband died in the war over a year ago, my pension is minimal, and my parents disinherited me when I ran off with Mr. Smith instead of marrying the man they wanted."

"Are you sure they would not help you if they knew you were in need?"

Margareth shook her head, "Do you know how many letters I have written to them with no response?" She paused, "My father never cared about me, he wanted to force me to marry his cousin. A detestable man who is the heir to my father's small estate. Since I refused to marry him, my father beat me," she paused, "he had already beaten me on other occasions, but never in such a brutal way. He told me that I should marry his cousin so my mother and sister would not be homeless the day he died." She sighed, "I decided to run away with Captain Smith, we both had known each other for years and wanted to get married." She looked into his eyes, "I don't regret my decision, and if I went back to the past, I would run away with him again. Despite the fact that we lived without luxuries, and I had to work alongside my husband, I was very happy with him and I will mourn his death all my life... If I had married my cousin, I would have servants and luxuries and I would be dead while I was alive..., or who knows, maybe he would have beaten me to death. His former wife died 'mysteriously'."

"But don't you have any other choice? You know that if you work in this establishment, you will lose respectability and you will never be able to marry again."

Margareth looked at him carefully, and decided to be honest, "Mr. Darcy, if there was any other way, believe me, I wouldn't be here tonight." She paused, "I have a little daughter, who was born prematurely and is slowly recovering. The little money I had saved I spent and still owe money. The pension I receive for the death of my husband is minimal, and the money I earn working as a seamstress is very little. This is the only solution I can find so I can pay the bills and also save a little money for my daughter's future…"

They talked for more than half an hour, Darcy gave her 20 pounds to pay the debts she had and the lease of the small house she lived with her daughter for a few months. With that money, she would not have to return to Madame Dupree's, at least for a while. At the insistence of Margareth - who wanted to repay him in some way and also liked Darcy physically since she was young - that night they were intimate.

Darcy returned home, thinking of some way to help her...