I am unashamedly censuring reviews on this story. I am astonished by how many homophobic, bipobic, and polyphobic reviews I have recieved. All mostly from guest reviewers. Amazing how people will not attach themselves to the hate they spew.
During breakfast, Darcy could not forget his musings from the previous evening. Elizabeth and Hannah were getting more comfortable with each other as they conversed. Hannah, at least, did not seem like a frightened mouse around Elizabeth, as she had on her previous visits.
Upon Richard's arrival, he greeted everyone with a beaming smile and a sardonic bow before filling his plate from the sideboard. He sat next to Elizabeth, his deep, hearty laugh reverberating in the air as he monopolised her attention and told her entertaining stories of his men during the war. He did not seem to mind talking to Elizabeth about the war, although he usually found it difficult to do with anyone else. Even with Darcy, he might give him the regards of mutual acquaintances, but he rarely shared tales of what happened on the continent.
"Darcy?" asked Richard.
"I am sorry, Rich, what did you ask?"
"Elizabeth asked if since we are not having guests for your birthday, if you would like anything special for dinner."
"Haricot lamb, perhaps?" asked Darcy.
This suggestion was generally approved and was decided to be served with pease soup and vegetables. Darcy generally disliked cake, so berry and lemon tarts would be served instead.
Hannah was applied to for her favourite dishes so Elizabeth might ensure they were prepared during her visit. Reluctantly, Hannah told her of her preferences for lamb over beef and fish over chicken, but she insisted that Mrs. Darcy need not put herself out to accommodate her. Elizabeth insisted that it was no difficulty at all, and thus the topic was dropped.
The rest of the meal's discourse centred on their plans for the day and what dinner invitations they ought to accept in the coming weeks. Darcy heard little of this, however, as he began to believe he had a solution to his lack of an heir, if the two others involved would agree.
"You wish me to cuckold you?" Elizabeth could not believe what Darcy was saying. While they needed an heir to prevent Pemberley from going to Darcy's dreadful cousin, she would have never imagined he would suggest she have relations with another man.
"It would not be cuckolding me. You would have my permission."
"But I would be ruined if it got out! Kitty and Mary would be as well!"
"You have not let me finish speaking, my love. No one need ever know besides me, you, and Richard."
"Richard?" Elizabeth had not yet had a chance to consider who Darcy would trust enough to let him share a bed with his wife.
"We can trust him. Even if he does not agree, I know he will never tell anyone. Any children produced would have Fitzwilliam blood, so they would be less likely to be suspected of not being mine. I know he admires you, Elizabeth." Darcy was calm as he explained his reasoning to her, allowing her the chance to consider what he said.
"I do not know," she answered. "You would not become jealous? I would so hate it if you and Richard could no longer be friends. I would not see either of you miserable for the world."
Darcy promised that he would try not to be jealous and that he did not believe that he would be. Even if he did feel some jealousy, he would never reproach Elizabeth or Richard, since it had been his suggestion in the first place.
"I see how unhappy you are, my dearest Elizabeth. You want a child. If another man must share your bed in order for you to be granted your wish, that is what must happen."
Elizabeth still seemed uncertain, so Darcy reassured her that he would never mention it again if she did not wish to enter into such an arrangement. She thanked him, and wondered, not for the first time, what she had done to deserve such a wonderful man.
Richard was exhausted. The last two nights, his sleep was plagued by nightmares that seemed all too real. When he awoke, his mind was filled with the haunting memories of his dreams, and the shadows dancing on the walls seemed to echo their contents. He lay down on the settee in the library, listening to the steady ticking of the clock and feeling the heat of the sun on his skin as its light streamed in through the windows. He wondered if a nap in the library would also produce terrors or if that was only during the night. He tried to think of pleasanter things as he rested, imagining Elizabeth dancing with him and remembering walking with her the previous day in the gardens.
He must have dozed off, for the next thing he knew, he was being comforted in Elizabeth's embrace. He was sobbing, his body shaking with each broken breath, an all too familiar occurrence after one of his more dreadful nightmares. He recalled it perfectly, as he always did. This dream had been of the day he had ordered the firing squad that executed Hansson. The traitor had to be killed, but his death screams still haunted Richard.
"Shhh," Elizabeth soothed. "It was not real. It was just a dream, Richard. Just a dream."
"It was real. It was real once. I gave the order, Lizzy. I killed one of my own," he cried.
"I know. I'm sorry you had to do that." Elizabeth sat beside him on the sofa and wrapped her arms around him like one might a child terrified of monsters in the night. His breathing slowed and his body released its tension. She rocked him lightly, whispering comforting words as he listened to her heartbeat.
As Richard slowly again fell asleep, Elizabeth made her decision. She and Darcy needed Richard's help to have a child, and he needed her comfort. She had always known that Richard admired her, and she could not pretend she did not admire him a little in return. If nothing else, he might get some rest if he was not always alone in his bed.
Once Richard was sound enough asleep to be moved without waking him, she gently removed him from her person and laid him down. It would not do for a servant to walk in and see her cradling another man. She did not leave the library, though, selecting a book and taking up the chair nearest where Richard slept. She was resolved to ensure he found some rest that day.
That evening after retiring, Elizabeth told Darcy that she believed they should put his idea to Richard to see what he thought. This, thence, was the impetus for a conversation the next afternoon in the library between Richard and Darcy, one that Richard could scarcely believe was occurring.
"Let me just make sure that I understand you correctly. You wish me to tup your wife so she can have my child and you can pass them off as yours and they might inherit Pemberley."
"That is essentially the gist. Although I would also say though, that I would wish to be present, at least for the first several times, to ensure Elizabeth is well."
"I do not know, Darcy. This is very unexpected." Richard sat down heavily in a chair and ran his hands through his hair.
"Come now, Richard. I know that you have admired Elizabeth as long as I have."
"That is exactly the problem. I cannot have her, only to be expected to later give her up once you have your heir. It would be worse than never having had her at all. Are there not doctors in London that provide this service?"
Darcy had no knowledge of any such service in London, but he supposed there might be. Nonetheless, he could not trust his wife to a stranger. Neither would Elizabeth be likely to consent if he proposed she couple with a stranger. "I do not expect you to give her up later, except for if Elizabeth wished it. I find it quite natural that two of the people I love best in the world would also have some affection for each other, and besides that, I have always wished for a large family. Having been raised as an only child for most of my youth, and then only with Georgiana, who was so much younger, I often was lonely, you know. Long ago, Elizabeth and I discussed this when newly married, and she enjoyed being one of five sisters. She also wished for many children."
Richard did not know what to say. He had been offered Elizabeth as his wife in all but name. It was his fondest wish, but he wished first to speak privately with Elizabeth. Darcy agreed and went to find Elizabeth.
Richard moved to the sideboard, got himself a drink, and then situated himself in front of the crackling fire. He quickly drank the liquor, certain that he would need the courage for the upcoming conversation.
Elizabeth entered the room, her blue gown adorned with a delicate white lace overdress, making her look breathtakingly beautiful. She had her hair curled and pinned in a fashionable style, with a white flower tucked amongst the curls. She smiled warmly at him and settled into the chair opposite him.
"I trust that you know the contents of my most recent conversation with Darcy," he said, not sure how to begin the conversation.
"I do," she answered.
"And you are in agreement with him? You are willing to do this?"
"I am. Darcy asked me already, and I have agreed."
Richard sighed, happy that she was willing but not knowing how to say what he wished. "Dearest Elizabeth, I must have you know that this cannot be simply producing a child to me. I am in love with you. I have been since Rosings' shortly after we first met. It was only my inability to support a wife that prevented me from asking for your hand then. I know I shall only fall deeper in love with you if I am allowed such liberties with your person."
Elizabeth leaned forward and took his hand in hers before bringing it to her lips. "Darcy told me what you said, that this cannot be a temporary arrangement. I should be pleased with that, I think, so long as us three are compatible. I have long held you in affection, although I will not say love, and there is no one else I would trust to do this."
Seeing truth in her expression, he could not hold back. He leaned forward and their lips met in a delicate kiss, sending a shiver down her spine. She responded to his kiss, which pleased him immensely, moaning softly when he plunged his tongue in to explore her mouth. He explored her mouth a few moments, relishing her sweet taste and her quiet sounds of pleasure, before slowly and reluctantly pulling away, not wanting to overwhelm her.
He gently cupped her cheeks in his hands, tenderly pressing his lips to her forehead and her cheeks. He embraced her a moment longer before releasing her. It was well that he did for Darcy knocked a moment later. Darcy must have known what had occurred, for Elizabeth's hair was slightly mussed and they both blushed on his entrance.
"I take it that an agreement has then been reached?" asked Darcy.
Richard cleared his throat. "Um. Yes, it has."
Darcy nodded and told Richard how he was to access their room, and they ironed out the details of the arrangement. If Elizabeth became uncomfortable, everything stopped, either for the day or forever. The word 'cease' had always been their signal that either of them was not comfortable with what was happening or needed a break. This word was now to apply also to Richard, and if he did not obey when Elizabeth said it, Darcy threatened to thrash him. Richard had no need of such a threat, for he was certain that if Elizabeth uttered anything resembling a plea for him to stop, he would be desperately concerned for her and her needs.
As the following night would be Darcy's birthday, their arrangement would begin the night after that. With this all settled, Elizabeth and Darcy left Richard alone in the library to consider the last hour and how his life had changed.