Hello everyone, you guys are really amazing, all those reviews are just plain awesome, you are awesome and keep reviewing so that my weekend will be awesome too :D

Oh and thanks to all of you who pointed out that I had the wrong queen/king for the P&P time, I already changed it!

That enough awesome, have fun with the next chapter!

And so the winter at Pemberley went by, Mr. Howard, though he encouraged me to call him Henry, which I never did, visited the estate or better me at least once a week. I found out a lot about him and his mother and with each conversation I liked him more. In those short months he became a very dear friend to me. Though there was still this tingle I couldn't quite explain when he came near me, or when he touched me.

My mother and also Kitty knew nothing about his visits, I made Lizzy promise not to tell them. She of course understood why I wanted that. As soon as my mother heard of the fact that he visited me on a regular basis she would try to make him propose to me. And while trying that she would embarrass not only herself but also me and the whole family.

To be honest, sometimes I thought about that too, about how amazing it would be to be his wife. But I wasn't this naïve. Even though he could allow himself to act more freely than others because of his relations to the Queen he would never humiliate his family like this by proposing to a low class woman like me. Besides that I wasn't as pretty as Lizzy or Jane, which would make up for my heritage. So I just enjoyed his company and our conversations, he was the very first person who listened to all I had to say, he would always ask for my opinion about things. He really was a very intelligent and kind man, at times I wondered what he liked about me.

But after all those months I didn't doubt his motives anymore, it just confused me and I was very grateful for his friendship.

A knock on my door brought me back to reality, only three more days until we would return to Hertfordshire. I would really miss Pemberley and also my new friend Georgiana. We had played the Piano together for hours and hours, while talking about everything that came to our minds. She even told me about what Mr. Wickham had done to her and how he had used her.

I couldn't believe my ears when she first told me about it. I hated him even more now, how could he do something this awful to a wonderful person like Georgiana? She only deserved the best, I could understand why Mr. Darcy didn't want to talk about him at all.

"Mary can I talk to you?" Lizzy asked and closed the door behind herself.

"Of course." I replied and rose from the Piano bench. She looked serious which worried me. Was everything alright?

"There is something important I want to tell you. I already send a message to Jane and Fitzwilliam of course knows, but I want to share it with someone and I can imagine Mothers reaction and that isn't what I want."

"What is it? Are you alright?" I asked worried which made her smile, she sat down on my bed and I followed her example.

"Yes, it couldn't be better. You know that I am married to Fitzwilliam for almost a year now."

"Yes…" I answered slowly, not sure what she was about to say, or what to expect for that matter.

"I am expecting our first child."

"Oh my god, really?" I gasped and when a huge grin appeared on her face I knew she wasn't joking.

"That is so wonderful." I smiled and hugged her, happy for my favorite sister.

"I know, we are both very excited."

"Of course you are, when is it going to be born?"

"The doctor, Fitzwilliam called, said it will be someday in the early summer." Lizzy answered, it was obvious how much she was looking forward to that day.

"I am so happy for you." I replied and hugged Lizzy again.

"But you have to tell Mother sooner or later." I continued when I let go of her.

"I know and I will but I will wait until you have returned to Hertfordshire. I will send her a letter and I hope you won't tell her."

"Of course not." I smiled, though I didn't want to go back to Hertfordshire, the time at Pemberley had been the best of my life. I had found new friends who were very dear to me and I had experienced a freedom I had never felt before. My mother and Kitty were busy the whole day, they had no time to correct me or drive me insane, but then again Pemberley was big enough to hide very well.

"Thank you." I shook my head, there was no need for her to thank me, I was the one who had to thank her, because she had given me a chance on finding friends and just enjoying myself.

"What is the matter with you today? You seem deep in thoughts." Mr. Howard asked, when I was rather silently walking by his side through the parks of Pemberley. It was very cold and even though I wore a thick cloak, a scarf and gloves I was still freezing a little.

"There is just a lot on my mind at the moment."

"Tell me about it." he said and looked down at me, I smiled looking into his clear blue eyes I came to love over the past weeks and months.

"My family and I will return to Hertfordshire tomorrow…" Now he looked almost sad.

"I forgot about that." he admitted and looked a little sheepish which made me smile.

"I didn't and it is just that I am going to miss everything I had here."

"That is understandable…" he mumbled, after knowing him for quite a long time, I knew that he was thinking about something, something important, though I couldn't say what.

"Now you are the one deep in thoughts." I smiled and his eyes refocused, which told me that he was back with me.

"Yes… there is something I've been thinking about for months, something I meant to ask you, I guess now is the time because …." but he couldn't continue because I heard the high screeched voice of my mother.

"Mary? Mary, where are you?"

"It would be better for you to go now, or my mother will never let you go again." I smiled at him, then I realized that I would maybe never see him again.

"Thank you for this wonderful winter, I will never forget it." Before he had time to answer, I gathered my skirts and hurried towards the voice of my mother, ignoring the pain I felt in my chest. The thought of never seeing Henry again, never talking to him again, made me want to cry.

"There you are! Come on hurry, we will return to Hertfordshire immediately."

"But why?" I asked confused.

"I received a note from your father it is very important, so hurry." I nodded and looked one last time over my shoulder, but Henry could nowhere be seen. I sighed then and followed my mother, it seemed like my dream was over now.

Alright that's it, I hope you liked it and don't forget to review…. PLEASE :D