Elizabeth did not know what to do. How was she going to tell Fitzwilliam? And, even if she somehow managed to do so how was he going to take it? Obviously children and an heir specifically, had to be part of his plan but they hadn't really talked about it, they were still just getting to know and enjoy each other, now they had another life to consider. She recalled the look in his eyes the other day when Georgiana mentioned nieces and nephews, there had been longing there but also fear and that was the part that worried her, what was he afraid of. She was the one that should be afraid, and she was a little, but where was his fear based, was it fear for her, for himself, worried about not being a good father (absolutely ridiculous she added to that point), or was he afraid that she would get pregnant too soon and what they had would be altered. Maybe he wasn't eager for children, would he be upset, disappointed? She knew he would be happy in some way but she worried that part of him might be resentful about this invasion into their new marriage so soon. She admitted to herself that she worried about this because if she was honest with herself part of her felt that way, and because of that she almost hoped he would feel a little cheated along with her so that she did not feel like a horrible person for having such thoughts.

Deciding there was no point in continuing to hide her exhaustion and illness, she had Laney; who had returned to work yesterday after a well deserved break, deliver word to Georgiana and Mr. Darcy that she had a slight headache and would not be coming to afternoon tea today but would join them for supper. Her head was exploding with all the thought and emotions that have been running around in it since she made her discovery and it was starting to hurt so it wasn't a lie. However the main reason for her avoidance was that she did not feel composed enough to be around Fitzwilliam right now, she was afraid she would either blurt out her news or if she did manage to bite her tongue he would be able to see something was wrong just by looking at her.

She heard Fitzwilliam come into her room to check on her, but she pretended to be asleep. The way he gently rubbed her head and kissed her forehead as if he was trying to sooth her "headache" made her want to shout out her news so that he could help sooth those worries away as well, but she needed a little time to process this on her own first. When he left she sat up knowing that with out him beside her she would not find any sleep. She only ever used "her" bed when she did take naps, both of them preferring to ignore the tradition of their class to sleep in separate chambers. She remarked how ironic her situation was right now, she was desperately avoiding the presence of the only person who could actually help calm her nerves. "Dear lord I have turned into my mother, with all these nerves" she thought. She gave herself a firm reprimand and repeated Charlotte's words of wisdom from her letter aloud "no use crying over spilt milk." She was pregnant, nothing was going to change that, Fitzwilliam would react however he was going to react, she could not predict nor control what that would be, but it was time to find something productive to do. With those thoughts she reaffirmed her usual confident persona and rose to dress.

Ten minutes later she slipped into the old nursery. It hadn't been used since Georgiana was a babe but all the furniture and several toys and pieces of clothing were still stored neatly within. She walked over to the dresser and opened the top drawer lifting a simple white, although slightly discoloured by age, outfit. She marvelled that precious Georgiana ever fit in this but as she did she noticed two letters embroidered on the chest in a slightly off white colour so you did have to really look to see it were the letters FD in pretty script. She smiled and took a better look and noticed that this drawer contained clothing more suitable for a male infant then and female, this must have been her husbands, that though had her laughing. How had her husband ever fit into something so small. She ran her hand adoringly over the cloth and then over her womb. Her and Fitzwilliam's child will fit into this as well, it will be so tiny and so fragile, and that thought terrified her; but it would grow into a kind, responsible and caring person just like their father and that thought warmed her so much that any reservations she had about it being too soon or jealousy over losing her and Fitzwilliam's privacy were driven away for good. Once she let go of those doubts herself she was able to be more rationale about Fitzwilliam's reaction and she knew that even if he had momentary reservations similar to her own they would quickly be overrun with joy and love, just as hers had been.

"Oh my precious babe, you will be so loved and cherished" she whispered to her womb. Taking a moment to let the force of the love that washed over her for her unborn child settle into her very soul. She prayed to God to forgive her momentary ungratefulness at his blessing and asked that he give her the strength to be the best mother she could be and prayed that he would care for her babe and see it safely delivered into this world. She vowed that if he oversaw her babe's safe delivery she would always remember that children are Gods gift to us but that they belong to him and she would always be accountable to God himself for her treatment of that babe.

Having reconciled herself with her condition and with God she traveled downstairs to join Georgiana for the remainder of her pianoforte practice before supper. She would tell Fitzwilliam tonight, she would ask him to join her for a walk in the garden after supper, she planned as she reached the music room.

When she answered Georgiana stopped and turned to see who entered. "Sister are you feeling better" she inquired.

"Yes Georgie, I was able to get ahed of the headache by resting at the first signs and feel great now, may I join you," Elizabeth replied.

"Of course," Georgiana said while scooching down the piano bench to make room for Lizzy. They practiced for another half hour and decided it was time to ready for supper as Fitzwilliam would be looking for Elizabeth to escort her to dinner. Elizabeth, excited to see Fitzwilliam and not wanting him to worry that she was not in her rooms, jumped up from the piano bench and turned to head for the door in almost one motion, it was too much for her body to handle and the dizziness overtook her and darkness started to close over her eyes. She heard Georgiana scream but it sounded to come from far off as she fell, part of her registered her head hitting something hard but then there was nothing but black.