a/n: I just finished planning out the rest of this story. I can't wait for you to read it (and for me to finish writing it). In the reviews, there is a lot of speculation about something bad happening, It will be coming up in the next few chapters, so get ready! This chapter does get a little suggestive, but not explicit, so be warned.
"Elizabeth, darling," he said as she awoke. He was kneeling beside the bed and the first thing she saw.
"Good morning dear husband," she said sitting up. He stood up as well and she placed a kiss on the stubbly cheek.
"I have just received a letter from the housekeeper of an estate I am to visit with Bingley and Jane. We must leave tomorrow or it will be another month before we will be able to see the estate."
His face fell to mirror her distress. "You are leaving tomorrow?" she asked, her eyes beginning to water.
"At first light."
She sniffled for a moment before regaining her composure. She had always worn her heart on her sleeve, but the pregnancy had made her much more expressive. "I was not expecting you to leave so soon. But I will try to endure your absence the best I can."
"I shall try to make a quick return. Cross my heart. Though Bingley will likely wish to take his time to make sure he buys the right estate, Jane and I will surely desire your company and we shall try to keep the trip as abbreviated as possible."
"Very good my dear. I hope I can resolve this business with Lydia and Miss. Bingley before your return."
"I do regret leaving you to deal with that situation alone," he said placing a hand over hers.
"Fear not, Fitzwilliam," she said giving him a light kiss, " I am perfectly capable of dealing with them."
"I do not doubt your abilities. Now, shall I ring your maid?"
She paused to consider it for a moment before looking hungrily at her husband, licking her lips, "No, not yet. I am not ready to leave this bed and start the day. You are to leave on business tomorrow so I would like to make the most of our remaining time together."
He smirked at her before setting down the letter in his hand.
"Now come and kiss me," she commanded.
He obliged her. He sunk into the bed beside her and took her face in his hands. His tongue darted between her lips that had already parted in a moan. He moved his hands down the neck to caress her ample bosom.
"Again," she commanded as his thumb flicked over her nipple. Pregnancy had made her bosom larger and increasingly sensitive to his touch. While he ran circles around her breast, he took his other hand and moved down the caress her growing stomach. Their babe was small between them, but he could feel it.
The pregnancy had changed her. Other than the physical changes that he so readily enjoyed, she now craved disturbing combinations of food. The week she told him she was with child, she had eaten sardines with every meal, even with desserts. There was also the matter of the vomiting. At the start, it was frequent, especially in the mornings. There had been an incident the day before, but he knew the worst of it was over. She had regained her energy. At first, she was frequently tired and indulged in naps, something she had never done before, but now she went on her daily walks and still had plenty of energy for the marital bed.
That was the best part of their coming child. Elizabeth had been fond of the marital bed since their wedding night, but since the conception of their babe, she had been more eager than ever before. She was ready for him at all times of the day and would demand his presence at a moments notice. Perhaps it was the confidence that grows over the course of a marriage, but he suspected it was their impending arrival.
It was no matter, not when she was moaning before him, her dressing gown pushed aside. She was ready for him and impatient so he made quick work of it. In minutes, she was panting heavily beside him.
"I think," she breathed, "perhaps, you shall ring for my maid now, or we shall be late to break our fast."
He placed one final kiss on her bare belly before he rose to ring her maid. She had tied her dressing down closed and he had returned to his dressing room.
As her maid dressed her for the day, she basked in her own glow. She had felt better than ever before. She had felt more attractive and more empowered and she loved every second of it.
When she was fully dressed, her husband escorted her down the stairs to breakfast. Jane, Bingley and Georgiana were all already at the table, enjoying the spread.
"Good morning," she greeted her guests as she took her seat at the head of the table across from her husband.
"Good morning," Jane said as she spread jam on a roll.
"Have Mrs. Wickham and Miss. Bingley already broken their fasts?" Mr. Darcy asked curiously.
"No, I have not seen them yet," said Jane, "but it is getting later in the morning. They should be down soon."
As if on cue, Lydia and Caroline walked into the room arm in arm.
"Good morning all," Lydia grinned as she sat down near Lizzy at the head of the table, "la! It is such a beautiful day. We have already had a walk and it was marvelous."
Lizzy shot a look to her husband. Both new that Lydia was not an early riser, but neither responded to her.
"We were just wondering when we were going to be graced with your presence," Bingley said sincerely and enthusiastically.
"I must apologize for our tardiness. We were both woken early by the sound of birds and drawn for a walk together by the phenomenal weather." Caroline explained.
Elizabeth eyed them both suspiciously. She was still unsure of what to make of all this. A part of her hoped that they were simply becoming friends. Perhaps they could be good for one another. Perhaps Miss. Bingley could improve Mrs. Wickham's manners. And perhaps Mrs. Wickham could lighten up the stiff and disagreeable Miss. Bingley. However much she wished the friendship to be innocent, she knew that it could not be the case.
Miss. Bingley had helped to separate her brother from Jane, but she was not evil. Vain, rude, and desperate, but not evil. Lydia was many things – thoughtless, rude, ridiculous, ignorant, wild, but she too was not evil. But perhaps together they would be capable of something terrible. She swallowed the thought with her breakfast and tried to cheerfully engage them both in conversation.
Though she tried not to think of it, she was certain that whatever the ladies were planning had something to do with the ladies of the Ton. She had been able to avoid the ladies of the town and would avoid them another season as her confinement kept her at Pemberley.
In truth, she did not care what the ladies of the town thought of her, only how it might affect the chances of her sisters making marches. Mary was almost nearly engaged, but Kitty and Georgiana were still unattached. Georgiana had her fortune, but rumors could still hurt her chances of an aristocratic match. Surely Lydia would not wish to hurt Kitty's chances, not after her foolish elopement almost ruined them all.
She could ignore all of this no more. It was settled. Tomorrow, when Fitzwilliam and the Bingleys had gone away, she would properly speak to them and get to the bottom of it all.