Author's Note: Sorry for the delay, I went traveling and the three hour time difference kicked me in the backside and would not let me up.
The library was Elizabeth's favorite room. It was a massive room filled with row upon row of bookcases, each filled to the brim with more books than she could read in an entire lifetime. There was no room for knickknacks on the shelves here, every shelf had a plethora of books.
Eliza purposefully led the way to a certain section and proudly showed it off to her, "I mentioned to my husband that I enjoy Sierra Davis's books and he went and bought the whole set."
Charlotte's eyes widened for she knew that Elizabeth did not truly enjoy Sierra Davis's books, she read them only so that Charlotte could have someone to speak of them with. She studied the shelves and sure enough all fifteen of her books, including the latest one that had only come out two months prior, were on the shelf. Around them were various books which were said to be similar to those of Sierra Davis's books.
"He bought this whole bookshelf for me," Elizabeth said softly.
Charlotte gaped at her, "All of them?"
She nodded sharply, "I thought, at the time, that he was trying to buy my affection. I have truly misjudged my husband."
Charlotte put a hand on Eliza's arm and Elizabeth gave her a sad smile, "I suppose that I owe him an apology."
"As do I," Charlotte agreed.
Elizabeth rolled her eyes, "You do not need to apologize for Lady Catherine's actions."
"But I should apologize for my part in causing the discord in your marriage," she insisted.
"Charlotte I told you already—"
"You can not simply handwave away my part in this. If I had written you even one line I could have eased your pain and that would have eased the tensions in your marriage."
Elizabeth was quiet for a short time, "I suppose you are correct in your supposition, though given that she caused your miscarriage I can not hold you to account for such a thing, and neither can he. If I have learned anything of my husband in these past two days it is that he is actually a very kind man."
"Indeed, perhaps there is still hope for felicity in your marriage," Charlotte said.
Elizabeth was quiet for a short time before she pulled out the latest Sierra Davis book and said, "Let us go read in the garden."
Charlotte followed along looking happy. The garden was beautiful and it was a wonderful time to simply while away the afternoon with Charlotte.
That evening before she retired for the evening with Charlotte she went to her husband's rooms.
"How do you feel?" he asked at once.
"I am well. I did not overexert myself today and I ate a short midday meal on top of breaking my fast and dinner," she replied wondering how she had not seen this side of him until now.
It was not that he was not kind before, she realized, it was that she mistook his kindness for being overbearing and suffocating. He had always asked after her health, in fact lately he had asked after her health multiple times a day. She had not seen the truth in those actions, instead choosing to judge Fitzwilliam harshly.
He smiled slightly at her, though he still looked concerned, and asked, "How are you taking the news?"
She swallowed as she considered his words. She was trying not to think about it though it had lurked in the back of her mind all day.
Evidently, she took too long to answer as he stepped closer to her and asked, "How is Mrs. Collins taking the news? Is she upset after the loss of her own pregnancy? Is that why you are upset?"
Elizabeth blinked in surprise at the rapid fire questions but shook her head, "Charlotte seems excited about the pregnancy, she wants to be known as auntie to the children. I think she sees it as the chance she did not have."
He studied her for a moment then asked, "Then why are you upset?"
"It is just—" she broke off for a moment trying to order her thoughts. "I am so unhealthy. I felt dizzy today walking and Charlotte nearly cried when she saw how thin I am. She lost her pregnancy, who is to say that I will not also lose my pregnancy? Or worse yet that the child will be unhealthy because I misunderstood the situation?
He frowned, "Misunderstood the situation?"
She sighed and sat down feeling tired as she often did these days, "I owe you an apology, Fitzwilliam. I do not know if you have been tracking my letters these past months but I have written Charlotte nearly every day and she has written me once."
"What?" he asked with shock, "I thought you were lovers!"
She nodded in agreement, "We are. But Lady Catherine was so furious with Charlotte for defending me and kicking her out of her home that she spent these past months making life for Charlotte a living hell. She lost her own pregnancy and still did not have a moment to write me."
"So that is what you were speaking of earlier. The backbreaking labor and loss of her pregnancy," Fitzwilliam said with a scowl.
"Yes. All this time I thought that you were hiding my letters, either not allowing my letters to be sent or not allowing me to receive hers. Or worse, both. Without Charlotte— even in letter form—" she broke off, overcome with emotion at her remembered pain.
Her husband put a comforting hand on her shoulder and for once she did not flinch away from his touch, instead leaning into it.
"I will punish Lady Catherine for her actions," he swore.
She frowned up at him, "How do you plan to do that?"
"Her greatest pride is her connections. She is an Earl's daughter and thus has incredible connections up to and including the crown, though that connection is not particularly strong. If I make it known how she abuses people, that she caused the loss of the pregnancy of the parson's wife, well the approbation will be severe.
"If I follow that up with a campaign against her and refuse to have anything to do with her it will cut her connections in half, at the very least.
"Added to that I will make it clear to her why she has lost my approval and will ensure that our family cut her off. She will be most displeased by this."
"Finally I was already planning to allow Mrs. Collins to stay here as long as you like however I now insist that she stay here indefinitely to protect her," he concluded.
Elizabeth swallowed at the overwhelming pleasure this announcement gave her. She had never liked Lady Catherine and now she hated her with a passion for what she had done to Charlotte. She may be unsure of if she wanted a child but Charlotte had always longed for children. To take away something Charlotte held as so precious to her was unforgivable.
She was experiencing some dissonance now as she struggled to reconcile the image she had carried of her husband these past months and the man she saw before her now. She would not have expected him to be so offended on her lover's behalf, let alone be so angry that he decided to take action for her.
"Thank you," was all she could whisper.
"Of course. I must admit that I am hurt that you would suspect me of taking your letters however given how I reacted when I first learned of her I suppose that I can not blame you."
"I still should not have assumed it," she said. "You are far kinder than I gave you credit for."
He gave her a strained smile and said, "Moving back to the topic of your pregnancy; I wrote an accoucheur and he should be here in a few days time. I hope you are not offended that I did not contact a midwife but I thought someone learned in the sciences may be better equipped to handle the unique circumstances surrounding it."
She shook her head, "That is fine. I am sure you chose the best to handle matters."
He nodded and agreed, "I did."
Feeling stronger now she stood and approached him to suggest they lay together.
"How does Mrs. Collins feel about you laying with me?" he asked instead of agreeing.
She shrugged, "She understands the duties of a housewife. When I was staying at Hunsford she spent every other night with him and off nights with me."
He relaxed, seemingly pleased that he would not lose that even with Charlotte here.
When she was done she went back to Charlotte and found her working on some embroidery though she put it away when Elizabeth approached. She took the opportunity to sit in her lap and announced, "He has written an accoucheur and the man will be here in a few days."
"That is excellent news," Charlotte said, looking distracted.
Elizabeth nodded in agreement and hesitated before adding, "He was furious when I told him about Lady Catherine. He plans to punish her severely."
Charlotte looked alarmed, "How could she be punished?"
Elizabeth explained what Fitzwilliam planned to do and Charlotte was clearly baffled.
"But why does he care?" she asked insistently.
Elizabeth grimaced, "I think because I care for you, though he also seemed to be offended on the general principle of the matter."
Charlotte was quiet for a time before nodding slowly, "He is a very strange man, caring for the mistress of his wife. I do not think either of us had a good idea of what he was like before your marriage."
"I did not have a good idea of what he was like until you arrived. I felt that every time he was checking on me he was being overbearing, rather than concerned. I felt that he was taking your letters from me and reacted poorly. I felt that he was trying to buy my love when he was simply trying to show me affection in a way he thought that I might appreciate."
Charlotte nodded and said, "I am glad you have learned the truth."
They retired then as Elizabeth was quite tired.
The next day Elizabeth and Charlotte sat down with the housekeeper and began to get back to work taking care of the manor. Elizabeth was very embarrassed that she had simply stopped taking care of it altogether in her fit of unhappiness.
They learned that Fitzwilliam had been handling it for nearly two months and Eliza sighed unhappily and said, "Another thing to apologize for. It seems there is much of that lately."
"If it is any consolation I do believe he will simply be happy that you are happier and healthier now and does not resent you for the extra work," Mrs. Reynolds, the housekeeper, said.
They had only been at it for an hour when a maid interrupted and apologetically informed them that they had guests.
Elizabeth and Charlotte met Fitzwilliam on the front steps of the manor just in time to meet Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner. Both Gardiners were surprised but pleased to see Charlotte and said as much before Elizabeth gave them a short tour on the way to their rooms to rest up.
While they rested Elizabeth and Charlotte went back to handling the affairs of the manor. It was much more work than Charlotte expected and she had expected it to be rather a lot of work. Still, Charlotte was an adept advisor and Elizabeth was thankful for her aid.
The Gardiners got a proper tour after dinner and were most impressed by the grand house and the wonderful playing of the slightly embarrassed Georgiana.
