This chapter was difficult to write, for some odd reason. Maybe I'm just tired, anyway. This chapter takes place the same day Bingley has arrived in London, Darcy and Lizzy's fight, EVERYTHING. A lot of plot twists, and an introduction to a famous character at the end.

Hope you enjoy, and review!

Chapter 21

The rumor around town, to Lady Abigail's amusement, was that Darcy was to marry Caroline Bingley. Now she was not one for gossip, but this was too ridiculous. She made sure that whoever came to her with that piece of gossip, knew by the end of their session, that it was indeed NOT true. Darcy was in love with another, for that she was certain.

"No dear," she said to Lady Wooten, who was practically drooling for some news, any news of the illustrious Mr. Darcy. "Indeed tis not true. In fact," she looked around. "There are rumors that Miss Bingley works at a brothel house. I do not know which one. But that she has indeed serviced even the young Duke of Devonshire before his passing."

Scandalized, Lady Wooten covered her mouth with her face. "I knew she was not so pure. Tis no wonder she was standing nude on the doorstep at Darcy House.," *Emma Wooten was one woman who could not stand Caroline Bingley. She had been after her brother for years, not that her brother had noticed, he scarcely had the time for women.

Caroline had once started a rumor about Emma and a local parson, which was not completely true, and since then, she was labeled public enemy number one for one Emma Wooten. Caroline of course had feigned ignorance at such a suggestion, so with this new bit of news, Lady Abigail would call on no other than Lady Wooten, for who else, but her could help take her down.

"We must do something to stop her, surely you know this, Emma. Poor Elizabeth. I cannot bear the treatment she has received from that woman."

"What does Elizabeth say?"

"She has been-" Abigail looked for the right words. "preoccupied as of late. She has just returned from Hertfordshire to listen to the reading of his will. She realized she has put it off far too long."

"It is a wonder that she ever had to read it at all, all of London knows the contents of that will. Devonshire, G-d rest his soul, trusted too easily."

"This is true."

"I wonder what he can mean by laying with Miss Bingley, or can I call her that? Mistress Bingley?," she giggled."

"She is a whore who will do anything for a shot at a larger fortune, and title than her name does not carry."

"I wonder should we do an announcement in the post?"

Lady Abigail shook her head, "No my dear, her reward shall be much more gradual. "

Charles Bingley entered his town home quite tired, and therefore unwilling to deal with his sister at that moment. After quickly jotting a letter to his angel back in Hertfordshire, he retired to his chambers, were upon reaching them, he collapsed in bed.

Caroline Bingley, who had seen her brother enter the home as she hid in the shadows until he made his way up the stairs had already put her plan in motion. She would ruin the Devonshire name. In her mind the young Duke was hers, marriage or not. When he passed, she was as good as a widow, mourned his loss faithfully. Or not, but none need know that.

She had sent a servant to the orphanage for a child, an infant preferably, be sent to her directly. She would claim this bastard child as Devonshire's and take Elizabeth and her son's title from him, and by association, of course she would be as good as the Dowager herself.

Elizabeth and her father were currently having dinner at Darcy House, the children, at Darcy's request, were there also. He wanted them to see one of their future homes, and the servants to see the children at the center of what would be their new family. The servants, most of whom were there when Darcy and Georgiana were quite thrilled to here little feet running through the hallways, as improper as it was to have children running amuck, the heart of the matter was, they were just babies, and did not deserve to have to act like proper adults. That would come soon enough.

Elizabeth was relieved that they were so accepting of her and her blessings.

Things were going smoothly through dinner, Georgiana was a consummate hostess. When she heard that her dear new friend was in town and to be dining at Darcy house, of course she made all haste from Matlock house to be there.

Elizabeth and Darcy had yet to announce their engagement, but her father was not so naive as some thought him to be, and could read on the faces of both his favorite daughter and her young man. And to some extent, he was relieved. She would not have to be alone, and Darcy's love towards his grandchildren, well that was just as much in his favor as anything.

Persuading the children to eat, well, one might call it entertaining. Persuading William to eat was rather easy, he would first point to each item on his plate, and hold up his hands as if he didn't know what it was. Elizabeth and her father, who were use to this, would answer him patiently, while Darcy and Georgiana looked on amused.

Sophia, on the other hand would take a bite, spit it out, then innocently look at Darcy and say, "I full." Anything she would do would be for Darcy's attention only. Darcy was amused at this, since their "talk" that one day at Longbourn, He and Sophia had shared a special bond. Once she saw him, if they were out of their nursery, she rarely left his side. The same was true today, and Elizabeth was beginning to wonder how she was going to get her young, temperamental daughter out of the house!

Georgiana loved having the children at the supper table tonight, for many times it was quite lonely with just her and her dear brother. It felt much like family. Georgiana, who was in no hurry to marry, especially since recent events, was in constant hope that her brother would marry soon. She was quite eager to have a sister. And should children come, she was more than ready to be an aunt. Though in her innocence, do not doubt that she did not know something was going on between her brother and the dowager duchess. She could only hope that whatever it was, it would bring her friend, a woman she loved much like a sister already, into the family sooner.

To this everybody's thoughts were occupied as a servant entered the room and bobbled a nervous curtsey to the guests and her master. "Sir," She looked around nervously. "Mr. Wickham, here to see you."