So whenever I do a chapter that features the children, I get a little weary, cause I don't know exactly how Darcy would be around them. I picture Darcy, though, to be an excellent father, as he grew up with a great father and mother, and I'd assume that he'd be copying his father a lot when his father was dealing with young Georgiana. I hope you enjoy this chapter.

It has been one month since Jane has left Netherfield. So Elizabeth has had some time getting timely advice from one Mrs. Hurst, and one Mr. Darcy. Along with the loving attention of her own family, and children.

Chapter 8

Elizabeth was in quite the predicament, and she wasn't sure if she did not enjoy it. She knew she should pull away and be offended. But Mr. Darcy had shown her, this last month so much kindness, and no amount of pity.

This, what they were doing now, she considered an innocent past-time. As long as it went no further, she would be ok.

And why should she not be in the arms of this handsome gentleman. The guilt at first ate at her, but her husband was gone, never to return, and as a part of her resolution to move on, she considered this to be exactly that. She was moving on.

This kind of behavior was abnormal for even Elizabeth. Though she was not an innocent, and new the details as to what went on inside a marriage, and even the marriage bed, she had always had a sense of control about her.

Even at her husband's burial, she never cried once. That's not saying she did not cry, for indeed she did. But Elizabeth presented herself at times with an icy exterior, only the people who loved her, her family, knew the exact emotions going through her at the time.

And while she would always love her late husband, the feeling of abandonment after he passed fast approached, along with guilt. He could not help being sick. He had fought. But she could not fight the feeling that he abandoned her.

And now here was this handsome gentleman, who was slowly showing her, her worth to society. Her worth to herself.

Elizabeth sighed into the kiss, then Darcy pulled back, breathless. His eyes were brighter than she had ever seen him. She knew as he was leading her out of the ballroom, of what was to come, and she didn't want to stop it.

The waltz was electrifying. He held her gaze throughout the whole of it, and never once did the outside world come to focus. She had wanted this to happen.

"Elizabeth," his voice still breathless, the use of her Christian name sending chills down her spine as she stared up at him. "I must apologize. This is not proper. Forgive me." And with that he bent down again to claim her lips with his own.

Caroline was not having a good time, not only did she have to associate with these people who were so beneath her, she had been trying to keep an eye on Mr. Darcy, and Elizabeth, and they and all but disappeared. As it were, Caroline had been trying to leave her conversation with Sir William Lucas for quite a while now, but could not find an excuse to leave. The man just kept talking, and talking.

Mr. Darcy escorted Elizabeth back into the ballroom, both of them presenting themselves properly, as society expected, and neither looked frazzled. In fact on their faces they wore a cool mien. Their composure's were that of those seasoned from the ton.

Darcy was impressed. Elizabeth, he saw, had changed a lot over the past month. From Jane's last day at Netherfield to now, a month later, her confidence had grown in leaps and bounds. Her icy exterior towards one Miss Bingley, had left Caroline speechless more than once.

To Darcy that was a beautiful sound. The sound of Miss Bingley's silence, and Elizabeth had done what few people ever could. Shut her up.

And now she was on his own arm. And he could not be more happy.

Elizabeth did not need him, that's why she was so exotic to him. That's why he wanted her. Many women wanted him for what he could offer them.

He knew Caroline was that way.

He could be sure Elizabeth was not.

And as he steered Elizabeth onto the ballroom floor, for their second set, he'd be damned if he let another touch her this way, he could feel her mature in his arm.

Elizabeth was an experienced woman, and this haunted his dreams this last month. Nothing he could do was no something that she had already experienced. Elizabeth had no pretenses about her. She wasn't openly flirtatious, or overwhelmingly innocent. She was a woman. And nothing Darcy could say would surprise her. Ever.

Granted there were the small gestures. Him assisting with Sophia while she pitched a fit had come to mind.

They were all having dinner at Longbourn, the only one not present was Caroline, who feigned an illness, secretly in hope that Darcy would stay and keep her company. The conversation between the parties was flowing easily when Sophia, who presumably escaped from her nurse maid in the nursery. She was quite the escapee.

Her mother had caught her and scolded her for not minding her nurse maid, to which Sophia, who was use to getting her way threw herself on the floor, screaming and crying, in front of the whole party.

Darcy who was a calm force stood, and asked for Elizabeth's permission to talk to her very irate daughter, to which Elizabeth was stunned. He gave her a look as if to tell her it would be ok. He took her daughter by the hand, and led the crying girl out of the room and back to the nursery, placating her the whole time, so that by the time they reached the nursery she was calm.

He handed her off to the nurse maid, but not before Sophia hugged one of his legs, then scampered off. She had found something more interesting to play with.

Darcy saw little William watching him. He bowed to him then straightened. The little boy then tried to copy his elder to little avail, but the meaning was not loss on Darcy.

The sound of the silence shocked those at the table as Darcy returned and took his place in between Lydia and Elizabeth, and with a smile towards the entire party, Darcy continued to eat.

Darcy smiled at the memory. He had come to enjoy those children, and if seeing Elizabeth at Longbourn was not an excuse to accompany Bingley to his daily visits, then the children were.

The second dance had ended and Darcy was loathe to let Elizabeth go. He was contemplating on ways to stay in her company, when the most welcome distraction came into view.

His dearest sister had just arrived at Netherfield.

"Elizabeth, come.", he led her gently through the crowd. "There is someone I want you to meet.