I would very much like to thank everyone who read and/ or reviewed the first chapter. Reading everyone's comments and learning what people think of my work is a great motivator for me to continue what I am doing. Thank you, everyone. -Alia

...

Her mother and sisters dissolved into tears, and as though sensing her mother's death, Emmeline began to wail. Rising from the bed, Elizabeth clasped her to her breast and proceeded to rock her as tears of her own tracked silently down her face. She made to leave the room when her mother's shrill voice sounded behind her. "Just where do you think you are going, Mrs Lizzy?!"

"To inform Papa, Will and Charles of what has happened."

"Not with my granddaughter, you are not."

"Mama, Emmeline should stay with her mother." Jane put in with a gentle hand upon her mother's arm.

"Yes, Lizzy, there you have it. Bring her back to her mother."

"I am her mother."

The events to follow happened in such rapid succession that no one in the room realized what was taking place until the sound of a resounding 'SMACK' echoed in the suddenly silent room and Elizabeth turned back to face her mother, who was now standing directly in front of her, eyes bright with fresh tears of pain as she held her stinging right cheek.

"Mama!" Jane screeched, rushing to her dearest sister's defence.

"How dare you!" Mrs Bennet seethed. "My pet, not yet cold in her bed, and already you are stealing what should have been hers!"

"Mama!" Jane stepped between them as her mother raised her hand to again strike Elizabeth. "Stop this, this instant. Lydia clearly specified that Emmeline is now Lizzy's daughter. You swore it to her to be so. Do you truly wish to go back on the vow you made to her in her final moments?"

Fanny Bennet deflated at the reminder of the promise she had made to her dying child and went back to weeping over the loss of her most treasured girl. Elizabeth took the opportunity and quickly slipped from the room.

Taking a moment to soothe the crying babe she cradled, the wails quieted to an occasional whimper, and she made her way into the Longbourn library, which doubled as Mr Bennet's study. Upon entering, her father, husband, and brother immediately stood. The men all knew with one look and they hung their heads in sorrow as she informed them of all that had occurred and the promises that had been made.

The small room fell into silence after she stopped speaking, that is, until Charles Bingley caught sight of something that thoroughly shook him. "Lizzy, dear sister, what has happened to you? Has someone struck you?" He and Elizabeth had become quite close as a result of the Bingley and Darcy marriages, and he held her in high regard as a most valued and beloved sister, even above Caroline. The thought of someone hitting her made his blood boil.

At his friend and brother's dismayed statement, William's eyes shot up to his wife's lovely face, only to find her beautiful features marred by a harsh, red, handprint on her right cheek.

"Elizabeth!" He rushed forward to examine her.

"It is nothing to worry about, though perhaps Papa you should go upstairs. I'm afraid Mama is quite distraught. Charles, you as well, for I'm sure dearest Jane is desperately heartsick over the loss of our sister."

Both men, though disturbed at Mrs Bennet's actions removed themselves from the room to go comfort the four women still upstairs. Once they had quit the room, William turned to his wife with a severe expression transforming his face, anger burning in his eyes. "Your mother struck you?! Why in heaven's name would she believe I would tolerate such a treatment!"

"William." Elizabeth placed a gentle hand on his chest. "As I have said, she was distraught in her grief. She was not thinking in her right mind." Seeing that he was barely hearing her she moved her hand from his chest to cup his cheek, forcing him to meet her eyes. "Calm yourself, my love. I am well, I promise."

He gave a great sigh of annoyance but he conceded, resting his face more firmly in her palm before turning slightly and kissing her wrist. "I'm sorry about Lydia. She was becoming a fine young woman."

Elizabeth walked to the window and grew very quiet. William watched his wife carefully for any kind of reaction or insight as to how she was coping, and minutes passed before her shoulders begin to shake. He was at her side in seconds, turning her toward him and wrapping her into his arms. A sob ripped free from her throat and her whole body trembled. Then her knees buckled and he moved to a chair, sitting down and pulling her down into his lap where he continued to offer whatever comfort he could. He was acutely aware of the swell of their unborn child between, as well as the prematurely small newborn still nestle against her chest. Correction, their prematurely small newborn. Their daughter. He held them quietly and let her grieve.

After almost a half an hour, William noticed her sobs had since softened and ceased, and he looked down at her, reaching up and stroking tresses of dark curly hair away from her face with the hand that wasn't securely around her waist. She looked up at him, eyes red from crying, and he kissed her hairline. Sighing at the gesture, she rested her head in the crook of his neck.

"What are we to do, William?" Lizzy whispered, looking down at Emmeline who had seemed to have fallen asleep.

"We shall do exactly what you promised your sister and raise her as our own. After the funeral, I believe it would be best for us to travel up to our estate in Scotland and reside there through your confinement until after the baby is born. If you'd like I can write to Georgie and ask her to join us. I'm sure she will not wish to be parted from you for very long, as close as the two of you have become, nor will she desire to miss the birth."

Elizabeth considered for a minute then nodded. "I think that is a smart plan. Mrs Baird said that because she was born so early it will take some weeks, perhaps a month or more before Emmy is of a normal, more healthy size. Perhaps we might say it was twins?"

"Yes, that is a very clever plan. Then we may write both of them in the registry at the same time. No one should question it, and if they do, our staff are loyal beyond measure to you and our family. No one would dare say anything and thus, there will be no proof. I will speak with Charles about he and Jane coming along with us as well. We will leave in a week. Is that sufficient time do you think?"

She reached up to cupped his cheek again and kissed him tenderly before nuzzling her face back against his cravat. "Thank you, Will. That would be lovely."

"Anything for you, my darling." Again he looked down at the sleeping infant. He gingerly caressed the dark curls atop the baby's little head and watched in awe as one corner of her tiny mouth quirked upwards in a reflexive smile. "I thought you to be the only one who did that. At this rate, it shan't be terribly difficult to claim she is ours. She looks so very much like you. Acts like you as well. What is her name? Emmy, you called her, did you not?"

"Short for Emmeline. Emmeline Ophelia." Elizabeth gave the smallest of smiles and kissed her brow.

"Emmeline Ophelia Darcy. Our daughter." He gazed at her and smiled too. "Beautiful. Welcome to the world."

William silently thanked God that the child in no way resembled the man who had sired her, the man he hated above all else. The newborn truly did look as though Elizabeth and he were her parents by birth. With her appearance strongly favouring his wife, he found himself loving her already.

Emmeline Ophelia Darcy. Their daughter. His daughter. Yes, he could live with that.