After dinner, William retired gracefully and Charlotte and Eliza spoke alone again.

"This is a prettily decorated room," Charlotte commented on the sitting room they had just entered.

"Thank you. I was redecorating before—" she cut herself off.

Charlotte gave her a sad smile and said, "I understand."

"Perhaps you can help me now," Eliza offered rather urgently.

Charlotte smiled at her and slowly sat on the couch, patting beside her to get her to sit down.

"I would be happy to," she said as Eliza sat much too close to be polite in normal society, not that Charlotte minded.

Eliza relaxed some and Charlotte studied her. In truth, from the moment she had seen Eliza she had known that she was not eating properly. Her face was gaunt, the bags under her eyes deep, and her dress, which had no doubt been recently tailored to fit her, hung off of her thin frame.

Charlotte studied her closest friend for a time, cataloging everything about her. She used to know every curve of her, what would she find now?

"My husband told the staff that they are not to speak of my mistress to anyone. That you are to be called my particular friend and nothing more," Eliza said after several moments of them simply studying each other.

Charlotte blinked in surprise, "Mistress? He called me your mistress?"

"Yes," Eliza said, looking as confused as she felt.

Charlotte considered that as she absently pushed a strand of hair out of Eliza's face which caused Eliza to give her a sappy look, "I suppose there are worse things to be known as."

Immediately Eliza looked concerned, "I can tell the staff—"

"Eliza, I was teasing. I am happy to be known as your mistress here," she said causing Eliza to relax. "I confess that I do not know much about what being a mistress entails. You will have to be patient with me as I learn my new duties."

Eliza laughed and then looked startled at doing so and Charlotte's heart hurt as she realized that this very well may have been the first time she had laughed in a long time. Not that Charlotte had laughed much at all lately, but she thought of Eliza as a happy-go-lucky young woman and it was sad to realize that this had not held true through her marriage.

"Have you found felicity in marriage?" she asked, fearing she knew the answer already.

Sure enough, Eliza grimaced and admitted, "I thought he was keeping you from me. I thought that I would never see you again because of him. I tried at the start but it was so hard and then— I could not help but hate him when I thought that."

"Oh my poor dear," she said softly, her heart heavy.

"I am sorry I have not lived up to your desires," Eliza said sadly, looking thoroughly dejected.

Charlotte cupped Eliza's face and brought her face up so that she was looking at her, "This is entirely my fault. If I had not received word from you at the start of my marriage I would have been in much the same state as you. If I had written you even a single line from time to time none of that would have happened, all of your anger would have been directed at me, where it should have been."

Eliza looked alarmed, "Angry at you! I could never!"

"You would have every right to it," she said firmly.

Eliza shook her head, "If it is anyone's fault it is Lady Catherine, the vile woman. She was exhausting you day and night."

Charlotte grimaced at the truth of that statement, "Well no matter, I must confess that there was not much felicity in my marriage either after I returned home. Especially after— well regardless you were not the only one struggling with your marriage." She did not say that some days the only thing that got her through was the hope that Eliza was happier than she was. That would only hurt Eliza further.

"After what?" Eliza asked, catching on to the broken-off statement.

Charlotte sighed and wished she had kept quiet.

"Charlotte, after what? What happened?"

"I— well you know that I always wished to have children—" she broke off, not quite able to say it.

Eliza's eyes widened and without thinking she lowered her hand to Charlotte's stomach, "You are—"

"No," she said in a dull voice. "I was but—"

Eliza rose her hand to her mouth in shock before suddenly pulling her tightly to her, "Oh Charlotte!"

Charlotte allowed herself to relax into Eliza until she was once more calm. Once Eliza deemed her sufficiently calm Eliza said, "Oh that woman!"

"What woman?" Charlotte asked with confusion.

"Lady Catherine! This is entirely her fault!" With that Eliza launched into one of her famous rants which, despite or perhaps because of its truth, soon had Charlotte laughing. The stress of the past hellish months completely fell away then and she soon interrupted Eliza's rant in her customary way, with a kiss.

Eliza returned it ardently and soon they were tugging at their clothes before recalling that they were technically in a public part of the house. Charlotte dragged Eliza out of the room, excitement thrumming through her as it had not in some time.

Eliza had to lead the way to the room as Pemberley appeared to be a well-dressed maze to Charlotte. As they were heading into Charlotte's room though Eliza stopped and bit her lip, looking towards another room.

"Do you need to lie with your husband?" Charlotte asked with understanding.

Eliza nodded unhappily, "I lie with him every night."

Charlotte gave her a gentle push, "Come back to me when you are done, then."

Eliza gave her a longing look before kissing her urgently, then squaring her shoulders and walking towards the master's suite.

Charlotte settled down on a settee and began to read the book she had brought for the road. It was one she had read often and her mind wandered over the distressing revelations of the day. She had thought it hellish that she could not find the time to reply to Eliza not thinking of how hellish it must be for Eliza to not received anything

She had been selfish these past months, she realized. She had been so focused on her own suffering that she had not focused on the suffering of her closest friend, confidant, and lover.

She could not bring herself to place the blame entirely on Lady Catherine's shoulders. She should have seen that Eliza was spiraling in her letters and ignored the tasks given to her by Lady Catherine for even a few minutes to respond to Eliza.

She owed both Eliza and Mr. Darcy a most sincere apology for her behavior as she had ended up causing massive discord in their marriage without meaning to. She had seen that quite easily at dinner when, despite Eliza's obvious and infectious joy, the conversation had been very stilted and uncomfortable.

Her thoughts spiraled like this for some time as she stared unseeingly at the book in her hands.

Finally, the door opened and Charlotte could not help but smile at her beloved which caused Eliza to smile back widely.

"Hello," Eliza said as she walked boldly up to her and sat in her lap which caused Charlotte to blush with pleasure.

"Hello. You seem to be in a good mood tonight, did things go well with your husband?" Charlotte asked.

Eliza shrugged, "It did not hurt as much tonight. But now I have you and that is all I have ever wanted."

Charlotte smiled a little bit at the end statement but it faded away as the first statement solidified in her mind, "It hurts you to lay with your husband?"

"Yes," Eliza said, seemingly unconcerned. "Does it not hurt you?"

Charlotte shook her head, "I think of you and it does not hurt at all."

Eliza looked surprised and she stared at Charlotte silently to the point that Charlotte suddenly began to wonder if that had not been the right thing to do. She had never thought about it much but when she did it felt like she was being loyal to Eliza by thinking only of her.

"Was that the wrong thing to do?" she asked after an interminably long silence.

Eliza tilted her head and studied her for a moment longer before saying, "No. I am glad you have not experienced the pain I have. I did not like the idea of you suffering in silence about it."

"You can do it too. I do not like the idea of you suffering either," Charlotte said urgently.

"Very well, I will try," Eliza said, a slight smile on her face before she pulled Charlotte into an intense kiss. They turned their attentions fully to other, more pleasant matters, and allowed the heavy conversation to fade to the backs of their minds.

The next morning as Eliza woke she nuzzled Charlotte's neck while Charlotte was reading her favorite book in the bed beside her. Charlotte could admit that waking up in bed beside her beloved and being able to stay there until she woke was a luxury she had never thought she would be allowed. Now, with the bright sun streaming in through beautiful, airy curtains the day felt like it was more perfect than any she could have ever imagined.

"What time is it?" Eliza asked as she stretched.

Charlotte glanced at the clock and said, "Nearly ten. You missed breaking your fast but I had them hold a plate back for you."

Eliza leaned in and kissed her cheek, "Perfect. You are so lovely."

Charlotte smiled but bid Eliza to rise so they could ready themselves for the day and she could break her fast. Eliza could not afford to miss any meals. Charlotte had nearly cried at seeing just how truly thin her dear Eliza was the night before and she was determined to get some meat on her bones.

As their two maids helped them get ready for the day Miss. Everglot said to Eliza, "Your husband wishes to speak with the both of you at your earliest convenience."

Eliza got a look of dread on her face and Miss. Everglot rushed to calm her, "I do not believe it is anything bad. He simply has news he wishes to impart."

"You seem to know an awful lot about what your Master wishes to say," Charlotte said shrewdly.

Miss. Everglot flushed while Eliza watched them with narrowed eyes, "It is simply that I believe I know what he wishes to speak about, it is not anything certain."

Charlotte studied her but found they would likely get nothing out of her so instead she set to distracting and calming the concerned Eliza as they dressed and she ate.

Finally, they went and found Mr. Darcy in his office.

The man smiled at the sight of them as if nothing brought him more joy than having them in his office. It was quite the turnaround from the taciturn stares and tense silences of the past.

"Elizabeth! Mrs. Collins! How are you doing this morning?" he asked as he stood from behind his desk.

"We are well. Why did you call us?" Eliza asked impatiently.

Mr. Darcy was silent for several seconds as he studied Eliza then asked, "How are you feeling today? Did you break your fast?"

"Yes, I did. I am fine, why did you call us?" Eliza asked.

Mr. Darcy studied her for several more seconds then said, "Have you noticed anything– anything strange lately? Perhaps something missing?"

Eliza stared at him in confusion, "Missing? What would I be missing?"

Mr. Darcy sighed and absently grabbed a pen off of his desk and began to fiddle with it. After a time he said, "Perhaps, your monthly?"

They both gaped at him and slowly Eliza reached down and put a hand on her stomach.

Suddenly everything connected in Charlotte's mind; the maid had known what Mr. Darcy would speak of because she had noticed Eliza's monthly missing and, concerned for her mistress who was losing more and more weight, she had told Mr. Darcy. Mr. Darcy finally decided to call for her because he was afraid that if he did not he would lose both wife and child. He was likely correct too, given how thin and exhausted Eliza was.

In the time it had taken Charlotte to realize all of this Eliza had not moved a muscle, shock clear on her face as her hand rested on her stomach.

"Are you okay?" Mr. Darcy asked her, concern clear on his face.

"I– I–"

"Eliza, breathe," Charlotte said as she closed the distance between them. "Slowly, breathe. In and out. In and out."

Eliza closed her eyes and Charlotte gently took her hand and squeezed, "You are okay, everything is fine. This is good news."

"Right. You are right, of course, it is," Eliza agreed faintly.

Still concerned at the lack of emotion on Eliza's face Charlotte led her to a chair and sat her down.

"I– I have not been eating. What if the baby is sickly because I have not been eating?" Eliza asked, alarm clear on her face.

"It is just the first month, right?" she asked, directing the last question at Mr. Darcy.

"Yes, she only recently missed her monthly," he agreed, looking concerned.

Charlotte nodded and turned back to Eliza, "There, you see, it is only the first month. Neither of you is in any danger yet. We will build up your strength once again and you both will soon be as healthy as any other."

"But– but what about you? You lost yours so recently and surely you were healthier than I!" Eliza said, panic clear on her face.

Charlotte grimaced, "I was doing backbreaking labor around the cottage and the neighborhood. It is very different circumstances."

Eliza looked alarmed, "She had you doing backbreaking labor? While pregnant!"

"It is okay. It is in the past now," Charlotte said firmly.

"No, it is not okay! That woman cost you what you wanted more than anything in the world!"

"Well, now I will be an auntie to your children. All we have to do to ensure that is build up your strength," Charlotte said calmly, though inside she was a mess of emotions. She did not let any of it show on her face though, for Eliza was scared enough as it was.

Eliza looked doubtful at her words but nodded slowly, "I will work hard to get healthy again."

"What is this about someone making you work backbreaking labor?" Mr. Darcy asked.

"It is not important anymore," Charlotte said simply.

Eliza looked outraged, "It is very important! That vile Lady Catherine cost you your child!"

"She did what?" Mr. Darcy demanded.

"Eliza, we are not speaking of me, we are speaking of you," Charlotte said as calmly as she could, trying not to think of that horrible day.

Eliza's eyes softened and it was clear that she understood Charlotte's struggles. "Very well, let us go for a walk. They are good for the health and I can not recall the last time I went on one."

That, more than anything, spoke of how distraught Eliza had been, for Charlotte knew she loved dearly to walk.

"Do not go too far from the house. You are still not well yet," Mr. Darcy said worriedly.

"That is sound advice which we will heed," Charlotte said as she helped Eliza stand.

Mr. Darcy inclined his head in thanks and said, "We will discuss matters more later then."

Eliza gave him a wan smile and murmured her agreement before leading Charlotte out of the house and down a lane through the nearby wooded area.

They were silent, both of their minds no doubt roiling with the new information that had been imparted upon them.

Charlotte, for her part, was not jealous of Eliza for her newfound pregnancy, instead, she was scared for her. Despite her words to Eliza earlier Charlotte had not lost her child much later than Eliza was now and it had only happened two weeks prior. She was still stressed and upset about it and knowing that the same could happen to her beloved Eliza made her heart hurt. There was nothing she wanted less for Eliza than a miscarriage.

After a time of walking Eliza turned them around and began to head back towards the house.

"We will need to speak to a doctor about improving your strength," Charlotte said, then added, "Perhaps an accoucheur, they are said to use science to help throughout the pregnancy."

Eliza nodded slowly but said nothing.

Charlotte studied her and asked, "Are you well, Eliza? Are you struggling with the news?"

Eliza hesitated but then nodded slowly, "It is that but it is also— I had built him up as a villain. I was a trapped young woman who had lost her lover forever. I had considered escape plans to go see you. I was considering taking some money and running to you. To learn that, after all this time, he was not the villain. That he was scared for me— that he truly loves me— enough to send for you— it is hard to wrap my mind around."

Charlotte swallowed heavily at that, guilt clawing at her insides.

"Elizabeth, I can not tell you how sorry I am for not writing you. I did not mean to hurt you at all. The pain I put you and Mr. Darcy through–" she broke off, the misery welling inside of her.

Suddenly Eliza grabbed her and kissed her firmly then said, "No more of that. This is entirely Lady Catherine's fault and I will not hear another word otherwise."

"You are too good," Charlotte said softly.

Eliza rolled her eyes, "Come, let us head back inside. I want to show you the library, it is truly divine."

"Yes dear," she said easily, her heart feeling lighter, though she still felt some lingering guilt.