A/N: Sorry for the delay on this. I've been so busy with school and life, which isn't an excuse at all. I was going to post this Monday night, but I'm in Boston and it didn't feel right.

"Mary, when I am down at supper, you must speak to Mrs. Darcy's servant. I must hear all there is to hear. I am certain that things are not as they appear here at Pemberley," Caroline said as her maid finished dressing her for dinner.

"Yes ma'am."

"I am certain that Mr. Darcy must be miserable with a wife like Eliza Bennet. Eventually his infatuation with her eyes, which he has called fine before, will fade and he will realize what a terrible mistake he has made. Now tell me," she said turning to face her maid, "do I look fit to be the mistress of Pemberley?" She was dressed in bright orange, her favorite color, and was wearing a gold turban with dyed orange feathers to match her gown.

"Yes ma'am. No one, not even the mistress could possibly look as well as you."

She grinned. If there was one thing she had that Eliza Bennet did not, it was style, and a natural grace and elegance. You could put a country girl in an estate like Pemberley and dress her in fancy gowns made of the finest materials, but she would always be a country girl. The grin remained plastered on her face as she went down to dinner on her brother's arm. It slipped when she saw where she was seated. She was a far as she could be possibly be from both Mr. Darcy and Mrs. Darcy. She frowned; there was a gnawing feeling in her stomach about this dinner. Being seated so far from her host and hostess would prevent her from hearing all the best gossip.

The food was delicious. Even with Miss. Eliza Bennet as its mistress, it was still Pemberley, and the food at Pemberley was always delicious. Both Jane and her sister made an effort to include her in the conversation. They talked of mutual acquaintances and the latest fashions. Neither subject was very informative or provided much in the way of gossip.

As the meal concluded, Mr. Darcy said he had something very important to share with the party. He rose and joined his wife at the other end of the table. "We wish to share the happy news that we are expecting a child," He said. He had the largest smile on his face that had been seen by anyone except Elizabeth. He was holding his wife's hand and stroking it affectionately with his thumb.

"Oh congratulations!" exclaimed Georgiana. She cheeks were tinged pink with excitement that she could not contain. "I knew that there was a reason, other than our present company, for you both to be in such high spirits." It was clear that she wanted to embrace both her brother and sister but refrained from such a show of affection in the dining room.

"Congratulations Darce and Elizabeth. This is such wonderful news," Mr. Bingley offered, "Such wonderful news, don't you agree Jane?"

Jane smiled brightly to her sister, "Yes, I do not know how they bare such happiness."

"Yes, yes," offered Caroline weakly, "congratulations."

"We are so pleased," Elizabeth said smiling.

"Have you written to your family?" asked Georgiana a little too eagerly. "They will be so pleased. I am certain. This is such happy news, such a happy event."

"I intend to tomorrow. I plan to invite Kitty to come and stay during my confinement. She is feeling left out at home and I would love to have her. Although, I am sure that my entire family will want to come, but it seems that Mary and her suitor will keep them in Herefordshire."

As they continued with the congratulations, Caroline excused herself to her room. She could not just sit around and listen to everyone congratulate Mr. and Mrs. Darcy for the rest of the night. As Elizabeth was the first of the group to become with child, it was very exciting news for the party and was sure to dominate the conversation. It was not as if she was the first woman to ever experience pregnancy, while the prospect of a Darcy heir was exciting, it would not be shocking to any of the ladies of the Ton. Many of the ladies expected such an announcement months prior, for there was no way Mr. Darcy would have married an unknown country girl unless he had compromised her.

"Mary, do you have any news for me?" she asked as her maid helped her out of her gown. There was an edge in her voice that she made no attempt to hide.

"Yes ma'am. Well first, everyone downstairs is very pleased with Mrs. Darcy's news. They're all excited at the possibility of an heir."

"That, I knew. Is there anything else?" she asked harshly.

"Well, ma'am, some of the housemaids told me that they have never made the bed in Mrs. Darcy's room – not once."

"How scandalous! Such impropriety in such a grand house. Surely Miss. Eliza is to blame. I have never seen Mr. Darcy do anything improper, except maybe marry Miss. Eliza."

"There is more ma'am. According to all of the servants, they have a special rule. They must knock before they enter each room, even if they believe no one's in there."

"What would induce them to do such a thing?"

"Apparently ma'am, a servant did not knock before they entered the master's study one afternoon – she thought that he was in the drawing room with his sister and wife, but she walked in on a very compromising situation between him and his wife."

"What scandal! To think of Pemberley reduced in such a way. It has been sullied by that country chit."

"Yes ma'am."

"I simply cannot believe that Mr. Darcy would allow such things to happen here at Pemberley. It is shocking. I am all astonishment! Surely something must be done about the way Pemberley is being run. I am horrified. Poor Georgiana is exposed to all of this. I do hope she will accompany me to Town this season. With a child at Pemberley, I am sure the Darcy family will not travel to London. I will speak to Mr. Darcy in the morning about helping introduce Georgiana to society. She would benefit from my tutelage," she said as the flopped onto her bed with a groan.

Up next: an unexpected guest arrives at Pemberley.