Many thanks to my wonderful beta reader and co-author Sam. H.

Late October 1812

"My love," he said, gently caressing his wife's cheek and looking into her eyes, "I know you are disappointed, but the doctor was clear. Due to your current condition, it is not advisable for you to travel with me to London. I will not risk your life or that of our future child." He leaned in and gave her a soft kiss on her lips. "I promise I will try to make this trip as short as possible, and I will rush back to you as soon as I have dealt with my commitments. You know how much I adore you and how difficult I find it to be away from you."

His wife nodded weakly, a small pout on her face. "I know you are right, but I do so hate to be left behind."

He took her hand in his, "You and our future child are the most important things in the world to me and I will think of you every moment I am gone."

A tear rolled down his wife's cheek, and he gently wiped it away. "Do not cry, my love," he said, pulling her into a warm embrace. "I will be home before you know it."

"Sometimes, I wish you could delegate more tasks!" she exclaimed, looking up at him with a rueful smile.

"I know," he chuckled softly. "But you comprehend the importance of our interests." He caressed her belly, "My family's future must be safeguarded."

They shared a tender moment and with one final kiss to her knuckles, he walked away and left the room.

Sir Frederick headed to London later that day. His excuse for the trip was business, but his actual plan was to have fun in London and meet with his solicitor to review some contracts and modify his will. He was hoping his wife would birth a male child to inherit his title and fortune.

Sir Frederick's wife was deeply in love with him and never suspected her husband was anything other than the charming facade he showed her. To her, Frederick was a loving and considerate husband. She blindly believed everything he said and felt like the luckiest woman in the Kingdom to have married a gentleman as perfect as her husband.

In her mind, all her friends and acquaintances were envious of her good fortune. Just the other day, she had ended a friendship with one of her best friends who had been spreading horrible lies about her beloved husband.

The truth would destroy her, should she ever learn of it. The truth being, Sir Frederick's interest in her had waned soon after their wedding. His motives for marrying her were her fortune, connections and his need for an heir. She held no interest in him otherwise, and her great advantage was her docility, and her lack of intelligence made her easily fooled.

He has not always been this way. Several years ago, young Frederick's heart was set on Lady Marianne, the youngest daughter of an earl. He was deeply in love with her and believed his feelings were reciprocated. Lady Marianne flirted with him and allowed him little privileges here and there. Frederick was happy and dreamt of his marriage to her.

However, when he proposed, Lady Marianne broke his heart. Her father had arranged her marriage with a gentleman wealthier and more important than him. Frederick was devastated; her rejection left him bereft.

A few months later, he met Miss Thorne. She was his first conquest. Miss Thorne, not exactly an innocent young girl, caused Frederick a lot of problems, and he was almost forced to marry her. Fortunately, he refused. A few months later, Miss Thorne gave birth to a son, but it was never certain if Frederick was the father or not.

He did not frequent establishments for gentlemen as he had no intentions of catching one of the diseases prevalent in them. Nor did he trust in women's fidelity - except for his sister.

His second conquest was the young daughter of a middle-income tradesman. She was rather pretty and very naive. Her father tried to force him to marry her, but he managed to escape unscathed as she was far below him socially.

His third conquest was a young orphan girl, very sweet and innocent. He did not quite manage to take her virtue before her guardians discovered them and tried to force a marriage. Her cousin had gone so far as to challenge him to a duel, but he did not show up.

Following that incident and to placate his father, he agreed to the betrothal with his first wife, directly before his stay at Netherfield with Elinor.

There, he met his fourth conquest, the beautiful Miss Bennet. She was almost too easy; her mother practically threw the girl at him. Such a pity she was the daughter of a minor gentleman, he would have been happy to set her up as his mistress. After he wed, he had only two affairs. Lastly, Caroline Bingley.

Frederick had the good fortune of encountering Lady Marianne again when he and his wife attended a gathering a few weeks prior. She was a widow now, and the passage of time had only made her more beautiful. After being reacquainted, they agreed to meet privately, but no opportunity arose before this trip.

Lady Marianne was presently residing in London, and they planned to meet in a small house that his father had purchased 20 years ago for his mistress, now deceased. Frederick was no longer in love with Lady Marianne, but he harboured an obsession for her and desired her more than any other woman.

Frederick finally arrived at his London home on the second day of his trip and immediately sent a note to Lady Marianne conveying his eagerness to spend time with her.