Could the kindness last:
In the months following the news Lydia gave to her husband, George Wickham, of her pregnancy, he was kinder to her then he had ever been.
Lydia could not be sure as to why that was, but she suspected with her carrying his child, he had once again realized why he loved her so much.
Mr. Wickham had even gotten Lydia new dresses as her stomach grew to large for her old ones. He had even begun to pick an odd job to pay for dresses that she needed. He would no longer spend hours playing cards, and drinking, instead he would come right back to her and spend time adoring and complimenting her, which no matter how hard she tried, Lydia Wickham could never find fault in being adored.
Little did she know that George Wickham's kindness was for his own gain.
He had heard of women wanting to give away their children, women who were so alone, and had no means to care for the child, attempting to give it up, but then becoming too attached to it, and being unable to leave it. Wickham thought, that if he treated Lydia like the wife she had expected to be, then perhaps this misfortune might not befall him. He did not want a child as of yet, maybe he never would. Sure he would enjoy having something to flaunt besides his own self, and his pretty wife, but he'd rather not care for it.
"Wickham, what will we name him, or her?" Lydia asked as they road in the carriage together. She had been talking nearly the whole time, of what, Wickham could not repeat, as he himself hardly paid attention to Lydia's words. She never seemed to notice this little fact though, she was content to have entire conversations by herself as long as she though Wickham was paying attention.
"I do hope for a boy though, could you even imagine it? Another George Wickham" Lydia continued. "I would like for him to look like you, though I suppose he can look like whatever he likes, so long as he has you're eyes that is, that is the most important part after all, that he have your eyes"
"Oh that is it!" Lydia exclaimed as she straightened up. "We shall name him George Edmund Wickham!" She laughed and pulled Wickham down by his shoulders and hugged him around the neck in pure excitement.
"Mrs. Wickham! If you please!" Mr. Whickham exclaimed as he gently detached Lydia from around his neck. "That is hardly proper conduct for... well, anywhere! There, look out the window, we are nearing Pemberley" Mr. Wickham decided, glad to have a distraction for Lydia at the moment.
Lydia took the bait, and quickly turned to gaze out the window at the large estate of Pemberley. It was a rare sighting, as she and Wickham were very rarely able to come. Though, she had not mentioned her coming to Elizabeth, or even her pregnancy. Though this was all part of the plan, she knew Elizabeth and Darcy would never turn Lydia away at such a late stage in her pregnancy, Lydia and Wickham had in fact planned it this way in order to insure the children would be secure at Pemberley.
"And...And if we have a girl, I should like to call her Cecilia Winifred Wickham" Lydia said as almost an after thought while the carriage came to a stop in front of Pemberley. It was rather late in the day, but not before supper.
Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth awaited the carriage on the steps. They were clearly bewildered at the unexpected guests coming up the road, and didn't seem to have a clue as to who could possibly be inside. Though Elizabeth's gut was telling her, that whoever was inside the dark carriage, was not someone she had hoped to see.
The Carriage door opened after a moment, and Wickham stepped out. Instantly Mr. Darcy's demeanor became colder.
Wickham only nodded at Mr. and Mrs. Darcy before he turned and lifted his wife from the carriage, then set her on her feet, holding her hand to steady the young woman with a large stomach.
The moment Lydia's hand was free'd she ran right up the steps as fast as she could to greet Elizabeth, a task made difficult by the circumstances.
"Lydia?! Be careful! You'll fall!" Elizabeth cried out and rushed down to meet her younger sister half way up the steps. "What are you doing here Lydia?! You said not that you were coming, and even less of your condition!"
"Oh Lizzie! How I've missed you!" Lydia exclaimed and hugged Elizabeth tightly. "I wanted to surprise you! And I shall say I've succeeded! You really ought to see your face!" Lydia laughed.
"Lydia! How could you still laugh! You look as though you could have given birth on the side of the road! How foolish of you to travel such a distance in a state such as this! How foolish of Mr. Wickham to allow it!" Elizabeth snapped, it was one thing to come unexpected, but a whole other thing to be so pregnant when doing so.
Mr. Wickham walked up the steps to stand beside his wife. He bowed a little. "It is my pleasure to see you once again Mrs...Darcy" He said the last bit hesitantly as his eyes crossed paths with Darcy's. "It is also my apologies to arrive with so little notice, as well as with Lydia in such a condition..." Wickham tried to continue before he was interrupted.
"You can explain yourself in the parlor, I'll fetch a maid for tea, and servant for your luggage, as you are much to far along to send away now" Elizabeth said, hardly masking her bitterness at the turn of an otherwise lovely evening.
...
"Well, as you know, Lydia and I have very little means as of the present. Which is why we needed to turn to...close relatives, in other words, the two of you." Wickham spoke clearly while Elizabeth and Darcy listened. They each held tea cups, but did not drink from them, far more interested in why on earth Wickham and Lydia would impose on them.
"We could never afford a proper doctor or midwife to birth the child, so we have come here in hopes that you would put up with us until the time comes." Wickham finished.
"Why did you send no news of your coming?" Darcy asked, his tone calm, though he was truly furious at the appearance of the man who had attempted to seduce his sister, then succeeded in gaining Elizabeth's foolish sister.
"We feared you would turn us away, as sad as that may sound." Wickham replied then sipped his own tea. The room filled with an uncomfortable silence, well, uncomfortable for everyone other then Lydia Wickham herself, who had been quiet content to munch on a biscuit that was far superior to the ones she was able to make back at their home in new castle while Wickham explained their sudden appearance.
"There truly are delightful! I wish I could eat such fine tasting biscuits every day!" Lydia exclaimed, seeming to be oblivious to the silent tension.
"And so you shall, in due time Lydia." Wickham replied giving what seemed to be a loving smile at the young lady.
"Oh, and I suppose you have a plan on how to make such a promise?" Elizabeth asked sharply, not really expecting an answer as she lifted her tea for a small sip to cover up a smirk.
"Well as it so happens, I have an opportunity that I will be taking, after our child is born that is" Wickham replied pleasantly.
"What? You do? What opportunity?" Lydia asked sitting up straight as she looked confused.
Wickham looked at Lydia with just slightly raised eyebrows and a single nod, this was an odd expression, that had Lydia further confused for a brief moment before she remembered and grinned. "Why yes! I remember! So silly of me to forget such a plan!" Lydia laughed. "It is a surprise Elizabeth, you will simply die of shock when I visit with a feather hat and fur coat!" Lydia added and nudged Wickham happily.
"When that day comes Lydia, I will be most surprised indeed, but happy for you beyond words" Elizabeth replied sincerely to her sister.
Elizabeth had been angry with Lydia for years. But despite the anger she held for her sister, she loved her sister, and had always hoped the best for her. Though this hope had always seemed foolish considering her sister's hope in husband, and regardless if they had a plan or not, Elizabeth found herself unable to believe in any plan that the Wickham's could come up with for riches unless it involved the scamming or misfortune of some innocent soul.