A/N: I understand I am taking liberties with Jane Austen's characters, but this is after all a fanfiction. I gave sufficient warning in the beginning of the story of the affair that was going to happen, I even put it in my title. I am sorry if some of you are disappointed, but there it is. I am trying to depict a time in which women had little to no freedom, especially women with no money. Elizabeth's only chance at freedom is to marry well, and facing certain poverty my Elizabeth chooses to marry Collins for stability. However, Lizzy is a passionate person and when those passions are ignited by Darcy she takes a huge risk to be with him, even if for a little while. Affairs happened in regency times, quite a lot actually, so it's not that huge of a stretch to believe someone like Elizabeth could have one.

I would also like to reiterate that Darcy and Elizabeth will get a HEA, but it won't happen any time soon.

Thanks for reading and reviewing!

Oh, and to the reviewer who mentioned that time lapse from when Darcy left to when Elizabeth gets morning sickness, it has been some weeks. I'll try to remember to go back and make that plainer.

Chapter 18

Three Months Later

Longbourn, as it shifted from Spring to Summer, was the most beautiful place in the country-at least Elizabeth thought so. The meadow grass was a bright green with beautiful wild flowers poking out like red, blue and yellow paint brushes. The skies were such a startling shade of blue it hurt ones eyes to stare at it too long. The cool breezes mixed with the suns warmth was a most wonderful sensation on her skin. She closed her eyes and just breathed it in.

When she had heard from Jane that Mr. Bingley had returned to Netherfield she knew how it would turn out. The letter had come from Jane, though she refused to admit any expectations on her part. The fact that he did not bring his sister to keep house spoke volumes to his desire to host or be hosted. "Perhaps he is just trying to get out of his lease," Jane's words on the page seemed to falter. But Elizabeth knew better.

"My dear" she said over breakfast one morning, letter in hand, "Jane is to be married to Mr. Bingley in early June." She had said it triumphantly, as if to remind him of his rebuke against Jane trying to catch Colonel Fitzwilliam's eye. Mr. Bingley was a bigger, better catch!

Mr. Collins looked up from his ham, eyes wide, "Indeed? That is marvelous."

It didn't take much for Elizabeth to convince her husband to let her visit her family for the wedding. Jane and Elizabeth had been so close growing up, more than mere sisters. How could she not attend her sister's wedding? Permission was granted, and Elizabeth arrived a week before the blessed event.

Returning to Longbourn as a guest unsettled her that first evening. She had been led to the much fussed over guest room, which, like the room at the Parsonage, was reserved for distinguished guests. The very room Mr. Collins had occupied when he had first visited. She had laid down that first night in the strange bed, and wondered why her Mother hadn't put her in her old room? It wasn't until the next morning she discovered Lydia had claimed it as her own after she left, and was therefore occupied.

Jane and Elizabeth spent the entire morning the next day wandering the gardens of Longbourn, exchanging news and gossip. The story of Mr. Bingley returning was re-told.

"Lizzy, he just came to the house one morning, unannounced. He asked to speak with Papa and they spent a considerable amount of time together, then he asked if I might show him the spring flowers and then, when we were alone, he asked me to marry him, apologizing for leaving so abruptly."

Elizabeth had a feeling Jane was only too ready to forgive him. She knew if she herself were in the same situation she wouldn't let him off so easy. The sisters then returned to the house where Jane showed Elizabeth her dress, which was beautifully done in the latest fashion.

Mr. Bingley had been invited that evening for dinner. He asked after Elizabeth's health and that of her husband. "I saw Darcy in town and he mentioned visiting with you during his visit to Rosings."

Elizabeth felt her cheeks warm, but forced herself to remain calm. The mention of Mr. Darcy's name startled her and she tried hiding behind her napkin until she was composed.

"Yes," she finally replied, "he was visiting with his cousin, Colonel Fitzwilliam. Such a pleasant man."

"Yes, indeed," Mr. Bingley cast a glance at Jane, "I have heard how charming he can be."

Shocking! Elizabeth thought. Could that be the reason Mr. Bingley returned? Mr. Darcy must have told him how taken the Colonel was with Jane and possibly in a fit of jealousy returned before he or anyone else could claim her hand. Elizabeth smirked.

Mrs. Bennet began talking, for no conversation was complete with out her input, and began badgering Mr. Bingley with questions on when he would make a purchase of Netherfield, instead of merely leasing it. She threw out a few other estates in the neighborhood that would do just as well, if not better, for them. When Mr. Bingley gave the slightest hint that he might look in the North for an estate, Mrs. Bennet nearly exploded.

"My dear," Mr. Bennet tried to calm her down, "this noise if giving me a headache."

Mrs. Bennet immediately stopped, pursed her lips, and continued eating in sullen silence. Elizabeth looked questioningly at Jane, who shook her head slightly. After the meal was finished and Mr. Bingley took his leave, Jane crept into Elizabeth's room to explain.

"Papa has somehow convinced Mama that his 'headaches' could suddenly cause him to...expire. We have all been looking out for his health since he revealed how ill he was."

"Really?" Elizabeth mused. "How clever of Papa."

s-S-s

"Oh look," Kitty pointed toward the road, "here comes Mr. Bingley and another man."

The girls were out in the garden gathering flowers for the bouquets and garlands to festoon the house. Lydia, however, was inside sulking. She had been invited, by Mrs. Forster herself, to spend the summer at Brighton where the militia were to camp for the Summer. First Mr. Bennet refused her, and after going to her Mother, she refused her as well. "You cannot leave at this time. I need you here at Longbourn and you are to accompany me to Hunsford when Lizzy enters her confinement!"

"It is Mr. Darcy," Mary observed, shading her eyes with her gloved hand.

Elizabeth dropped her shears at the mention of Mr. Darcy's name and turned. It was him. She quickly bent down to retrieve her shears before anyone noticed, then continued cutting flowers, all the while trying to still her beating heart.

"Lizzy!" Jane shook her, "come inside."

Elizabeth knew she would most likely be meeting Mr. Darcy again. He had been invited to the wedding, along with his sister. She looked at the men dismounting as the girls were coming upon them by the front door.

"Good afternoon!" Bingley called brightly, handing his reins to the servant.

The girls curtsied. Jane invited the men inside for refreshment, Bingley taking Jane's arm, Darcy taking Elizabeth's, the other girls trailing after. Tea was served, and talk of the guests arriving at Netherfield commenced. Bingley's family had arrived, his Mother and two other sisters, along with an Uncle, his Father's brother. Mr. Darcy and his sister had also arrived that morning, and some other friends of his from London.

"Are they married?" Mrs. Bennet asked, who had joined them.

Nearly spitting her tea out, Elizabeth gave her mother such a look.

"Ah, no, Jennings and Thompson are not married." Bingley replied.

"I suppose you have heard the good news?" Mrs. Bennet asked of Mr. Darcy.

"Good news?" He questioned.

"Yes, did not Bingley tell you that our Lizzy will soon have a child?"

Now Elizabeth did spit her tea out, thankfully most of it going into her cup. She wiped at her mouth, desperately trying not to look in Darcy's direction.

"That is wonderful news," she heard him say before excusing himself.

"I must say," Mrs. Bennet declared once he had left the room. "I wonder at you befriending such a disagreeable man."

In the awkwardness that ensued Elizabeth excused herself, sedately walking out of the room, but once out of eyesight she ran out the front door just in time to see Darcy mount his horse. He had been about to ride off when he saw her and how he longed to go to her, to take her in his arms. He cast a wary glance at the servant who was returning to his duties in the stables, then up at the house and its many windows.

"Mr. Darcy," Elizabeth said, hoping to keep him there a bit longer to feast her eyes on his face, his hands, his hair, everything about him.

Darcy cleared his throat, "Mrs. Collins." There was short pause. "And when is your babe expected?"

Elizabeth hesitated before saying, "Late December, or early January." She could see him figuring the numbers in his head.

"Indeed" He asked, eyes wide, knowing he had discovered her secret. "Elizabeth," Darcy looked around to make sure there were no prying ears to hear, "is the babe mine?"

Elizabeth's cheeks flushed. She looked down at her hands, nodding her head. Afraid of what his reaction might be she slowly looked up. His mouth was drawn into a taught line, his eyes appeared to be on fire.

"No one knows or suspects," she continued, hoping he would take her hint. Though she doubted Mr. Darcy would have proposed stealing her away from her husband and setting her up as his Mistress, she needed to make it abundantly clear that was not the future she wanted for herself.

"I see," he bade her goodbye, then without another word, mounted his horse and rode on to Netherfield.