'Miss Bennet,' Mrs Michael's stood to greet her guest. This early in the morning, far before the appropriate time for callers, only her husband could have sent the young woman. Studying her countenance, she noticed the tears in the usually happy woman's eyes. Forgetting courtesy, she took the girl into her arms and allowed her to sob. After all, she had known the Bennet family for many years.

'It is hopeless,' Lizzy cried as she'd not allowed herself to cry before.

'Come, sit beside me and tell me what is so hopeless,' Mrs Michael's stated in a kind tone. 'Please call me Anna, and I will address you as Lizzy for I know it is what your closest friends and family call you. I am your friend, Lizzy and I need not say it, but your conversation will go no further.'

'I know it,' Elizabeth made to dry her eyes, only to have fresh tears run down her face.

'Wait here and have time to compose while I arrange tea and something to eat,' Anna placed a hand on her shoulder, ensuring their eyes met and the younger woman understood her meaning. 'I fear we have much to speak of and some of it will not be for the walls to hear.'

It took the pastor's wife ten minutes to return. When she did, Anna carried the tea tray. Her servants had been sent on errands that would keep them away from the house for several hours.

'No, do not dissemble and tell me it all in the most graphic terms. I know you do not like Mr Darcy after his abuse of your character at the Meryton Assembly yet the first of the bands were read for your marriage on Sunday. How has this come about on such a short acquaintance,' Anna asked in the most forthright tone she could manage.

'You know my mother too well not to understand how Jane caught a cold on the way to Netherfield, nor the reason why. My sister has been recovering in that house,' Lizzy started. 'The very next day I walked to see her. Mr Darcy greeted me as I came into the park. His countenance I shall never forget. He is always so severe and remained so for the first three days of our stay. I continued to believe he hated me with his disdainful looks and argumentative language. On,' pausing, Elizabeth became flushed and embarrassed in equal measure, 'the third night of our stay, he came to my room.'

While inappropriate, Anna could guess the rest. It was not unusual for the Master of a house to have servants warm their bed at night, willing or not. She had heard of male guest taking the same liberties. For a Gentleman to treat a woman of the same class that way could only lead to disrepute or marriage. Trying to negate her emotional state, indeed her feelings of injustice for Elizabeth, Anna had heard many a tale of force upon a woman before. Those women acted much as Miss Bennet. However they did not have the gentleman offer for them after the fact.

'Lizzy,' Anna offered in a soft tone.

'How,' she stood suddenly, pacing the room in agitation, 'can something that started without my consent end in such pleasure. I am ashamed of my feelings and how I acted for the rest of the night. He has come to me every night since and taken me many times. I have come to enjoy his attentions and it makes me feel disgusted. He only separates as the morning light enters the sky. This engagement cannot be broken and my father is aware of how it came about. My Papa has given his consent for me to remain at Netherfield until the marriage so he may continue to visit my bed every night.'

'You enjoy the lovemaking,' Anna tried to keep the surprise out of her voice.

'Not at first,' Lizzy deflated suddenly. Returning to her seat she looked with a longing expression into Mrs Michael's eyes, watching for any hint of disapproval. 'I woke to him in my bed, kissing me with such passion. I did not fight him thinking if I lay quietly he would lose interest.'

'He did not,' Anna encouraged.

'No, I believe Mr Darcy took it as an affront to his ardour. He doubled his efforts. Forgive me, but I have never been kissed in the places he kissed me. Too soon my body knew it wanted something only he could give me. There was a moment of hurt, maybe a little more, then such pleasure as I had never known, not even when he kissed me so inappropriately to prepare for the loss of my maidhood. Afterwards he explained why he had done it.'

'Will you not tell me?' Anna urged once again. She felt there was much more to this sordid story.

'He is dying and must have an heir to Pemberley. He knew of my dislike, of my mother's manipulation of Jane to capture Mr Bingley. In fact, Mr Darcy is well aware of my cousin Collins right to throw us into the hedgerows upon my father's demise. You see he is acquainted with him through his Aunt who holds Mr Collins living. His plan was very simple. Find a strong, stout woman who could bear at least two children very quickly so his line may continue. There are no other Darcy men for six generations and the line will die out if he does not produce a male heir,' Lizzy tried to make sense of it but knew she had muddled her way though.

'So,' Anna recounted the information, 'Mr Darcy believes himself to be dying and in need of a wife who has demonstrated fertility and strength. You come from a family of five so your chances of becoming with child and carrying to term are as good as anyone can boast. You are fit, young and have a quickness about you he would wish in his children. Added to this, you family will be destitute with the death of your father and Mr Darcy is in the position to keep five women. He needed a legitimate heir so, despite your feeling for him, he must marry you. However to overcome your dislike he had to take you, not by force, for you would not stand for that, but by manipulation.'

'Yes,' Lizzy felt ashamed and yet elated that the pasters wife had summed up her position.

'There are many women in situation that do not end as well as yours,' Anna stated. 'Listen to me, Lizzy, before you express your anger at what you perceive to be my complicity with Mr Darcy. While the man is no gentleman for taking you the way he has, even you see his need, his desperation in this deplorable deed. The act is not unpleasant. Mr Darcy seems to want to please you in your marital bed and has pledged himself to your family's welfare. You are to be married, thus saving your reputation. Becoming the Mistress of a large estate will give you freedoms you have not considered, especially if you're soon to be husband is to make you a widow.'

'You think I should rejoice in my situation,' Lizzy turned her anger on the woman. 'That I find pleasure in becoming tied to a man who has forced my virtue for his own reasons without thought or feeling for mine?'

'I do not,' Anna pursed her lips. 'But the act is done and cannot be undone. You must find peace where you can. Think, even now you might be with child. Pour your love and devotion into your son or daughter for they will be the next Master or Mistress of Pemberley. You must protect them so this fate does not befall your children.'

Taking in a sharp breath, Lizzy had not thought that far ahead. Placing a hand on her belly, she wondered if it might be so. The thought of a child both frightened and pleased her.

'You have given me much to think upon,' Elizabeth said in a tone filled with longing and loathing.

'I am always here, Lizzy,' Anna smiled slightly. Turning the pot, she felt the cooling liquid within. 'Now, the tea has gone cold. Shall we retire to the kitchen to brew another pot and enjoy our breakfast before you must return to Netherfield?'

'Yes,' Lizzy followed the woman. Somehow the conversation, the act of telling someone else had lightened her emotions. For the remainder of the visit they discussed much more mundane topics.

'Lizzy,' Anna hugged the confused girl as the Darcy coach rolled up the drive. 'Tell Mr Darcy all you have spoken with me. Make him understand how is actions have affected you. I do not think him so unfeeling as you think. I promise a man who hears his wife speak to him upon his pillow after taking his pleasure is a man able to be manipulated. Use your feminine arts to better your opinion of each other. I feel yours can be a marriage of felicity if you are both willing to work at it.'

The words, if he is truly dying, for as long as you have together lain heavy on the air and unsaid. Both women thought it and shared opinions through their expression. Nodding, Elizabeth exited the room with both a lighter and heavier heart.

And so, that night when Darcy crept down the hall, Lizzy awaited him. Standing in the middle of her chamber, she'd shed her clothing, opening herself fully to him. Eyes wide, he came to her with questions radiating from his blue irises.

'I spoke with the parson's wife, quiet explicitly,' she answered the unasked question.

'This is the result,' he stated in wonder. 'You give yourself to me unreservedly?'

'I cannot lie,' Lizzy worked through her embarrassment, 'I like what you do with my body. It is my mind that rebels at the acts we have shared when I do not know who you are. I still do not like you or what you have turned me into, yet we are to spend the rest of our lives together and I wish for at least some felicity and respect between us.'

'I know what I have manipulated you to do is unconscionable,' Darcy sighed. 'As a rational man, I cannot condone such behaviour against a gentlewoman. I apologise, Elizabeth and will use every day to make up for the way I have forced your hand in this matter. I am more than aware of your dislike of me and yet I cannot help myself continuing to want you. I wished I could have awaited our vows but time is of the essence.'

Taking her hand, he used the other to lift his night shirt. Guiding her fingers to his testicles, he forced her to feel first one then the other. The gasp acknowledged the difference between them.

'Every doctor I have visited,' Darcy explained, 'and there have been many, has given the same diagnosis. There is a growth,' with his words he once again guided her fingers to the lump, 'that expands. Eventually it will cause pain and I will suffer a most grievous death. There is a man who believes it has been the curse of the Darcy's. He has seen this before in other families. It is the reason births are so low and Darcy men die at an early age.'

'Then,' Elizabeth, taking in a large breath, placed his hand upon her breast, 'let us continue in the hope that an heir will appear as soon as may be.'

He did not wait. Picking Elizabeth up, he carried her to the bed. Laying her gently on the fine cotton sheet, he removed his night shirt. Kneeling, he moved her legs apart and prepared to pleasure her. Kisses, starting at her calf rose higher and higher until he reached her nirvana. Once she cried out in pleasure, he took his own. They would dance this like several times before he left to avoid detection with the breaking of a new day.

Upon leaving, Darcy placed a hand on her still flat belly while Elizabeth continued in a fatigued sleep. Tonight she had participated as never before. Indeed, he'd felt secure enough to ask for a most inappropriate kiss from his betrothed. That she agreed made him almost come before she started.

'I can only hope,' he whispered to the ball of dividing cells he did not know lay there, 'that my words reach the tiny ears of my son. That I have not taken this woman's virtue in vain.'

For those of you wondering at Mr Darcy's disorder, he has testicular cancer which often runs in families and afflicts men between 20-35 years of age. There are two types, a slow and fast growing form. I will add more information as the story progresses as to which type Mr Darcy has.

I have a vote to put to you. There is a way for me to make this less heartbreaking and offer the possibility of a HEA, although I do not think it a good or realistic ending. Please tell me if you are for a sweet sadness or miraculous cure. If there is enough response, I could do both.