A/N - Minor edit

Chapter 10

Georgiana returned to visit and found her friend in a very altered mood. The infant was fed, cleaned and changed and Georgiana was happy to hold him. Settled with him in her arms, it took her little time to notice her friend was moving about the room with purpose. Slowly, piles of Elizabeth's possessions were being folded and collected on the bed.

"Elizabeth, may I inquire into what you are doing?"

"I am packing, Georgiana. I shall continue my journey tomorrow, or at the earliest arrival of the next post coach."

Shocked and appalled, Georgiana exclaimed, "No! Are you sure you are strong enough? Or Alex? How might he endure riding in such a way? He is but days old!"

Elizabeth closed her eyes, seeking her resolve from earlier. "Georgiana, I am well. The time has come for me to return to my family. My son will be with me, and I will keep him safe."

Georgiana rose from her seat and carefully placed the babe in the middle of the mattress, as she had seen Elizabeth do. Then, without saying a word she departed, closing the door behind her.

Pinching two fingers over the bridge of her nose, Elizabeth barely had time to heave a sigh of frustration, before the door was flung back open startling Elizabeth and the babe, who began to wail, shaking his little fists above him in the air. Georgiana rushed in to pick him up and gently swayed to sooth him. Behind her entered Darcy, his face bereft of expression.

He bowed, "Mrs. Carrington."

"Mr. Darcy. I gather Georgiana has raised a 'hue and cry'?"

His lips twitched, and his eyes cut to his sister, still calming the bundle in her arms. "Indeed. I gather you feel it is time to return to your family?"

Her chin raised, "I do. There are things I must tend to."

"I see." He rested his gaze on her in a contemplating manner. "Far be it for me to tell you what you may or may not do. I shall, however, offer my coach as a safer way for you to journey with your son. If you plan on leaving, so shall we. As we are traveling to London in the same direction you intend to take, it behooves me to offer you a comfortable ride to your father's door."

Georgiana held her breath as she watched several emotions cross her friend's face. She could not read them all, but there is no doubt Elizabeth was going to say no. Her brother obviously perceived this as well.

"Think of it this way, Madam. I did not invest in your well-being, as well as your son's, to see it placed in potential danger. Georgiana and I only wish to ensure you safely arrive at your destination."

The young widow looked like she would argue more, but eventually she nodded, blinking rapidly. "Then I shall only say thank you, sir."

"Very good. We shall depart in the morning. It is too late to get far today, and we will need to make sure you have everything you need for Gregory Alexander's," he smiled at the name, "travels."

She huffed, but sat down on the bed and slumped her shoulders. "You have both been far too generous toward me. I feel it is more than I deserve.."

He gazed at the floor for a brief moment, "Somehow, I suspect it is the least you deserve." Then he bowed and exited the room.

Georgiana walked over to where Elizabeth was sitting. She had remained quiet all through the disagreement. Now she placed 'Alex' in Elizabeth's arms.

"This really is for the best. We only desire yours and Alex's well-being."

"Alex… Shall I have no say regarding this sobriquet?" Elizabeth's eyebrows lifted.

"No. You shall not." She giggled.

And with that, Elizabeth gave her first genuine laugh in a very long time.

~ / ~

The next morning Mrs. Hobbs arrived with a dress in her hands. "Ye'll find this easier on the road, dearie." It had fastenings in the front which would be more convenient to nurse while traveling. "I 'ad a maid take it in 'an it should fit ye now."

"We shall not be too long on the road, I do not think."

"It'll be long enough, an' yer babe'll be wantin' ta eat."

Elizabeth smiled softly at the dear woman. She took Mrs. Hobbs hands in hers, "My dear Mrs. Hobbs, what would I have done without you? I have no doubt you saved my life, and my Alex's too. We would not be here but for your kindness and strength."

Mrs. Hobbs smiled bashfully back at her, "Ach, dearie, the strength was all yers, to be sure. Ye jest remember tha', when the days or nights weigh ye down. Ye are always stronger'n ye think ye are. If ye doubt me, jest think back on givin' birth with only a stranger helpin' ye."

They hugged and dabbed at the few tears collected in their eyes, sheepishly chuckling at one another.

~ / ~

A foot man had taken her trunk down to the carriage and Elizabeth was saying her goodbyes and appreciation to the maids who had been so helpful over the past several days.

"I do not see Hannah, is she not around?" This was met with the shuffling of feet. "Pray, do give her my thanks when you see her."

When Elizabeth stepped out of the inn with Alex in her arms, she saw two carriages were being prepared for departure. The sight of Hannah entering the second Darcy equipage, caused an eyebrow to rise and she fixed a gimlet eye on Georgiana, who had the good sense to busy herself with entering the first carriage, assisted by a footman.

"New maid, indeed… If I blinked, I am convinced I should open my eyes to a complete wardrobe for Alex, not to mention his first pony and a full-time governess..." Elizabeth muttered to herself, keeping her voice too low for anyone to overhear.

"Good morning."

Whipping her head around Elizabeth saw Mr. Darcy coming around one of the carriages with his valet and a groomsman following.

Elizabeth bobbed a brief curtsey, "Good morning, Mr. Darcy."

"We are nearly prepared to depart. Do you have everything you will require for yourself and Alex, during our journey?"

"I believe so. Mrs. Hobbs offered extra toweling should Alex need to be changed or if he should make a mess."

"Very good. We may stop at any point you or he needs to rest. I took the liberty of sending an express to your father informing him of our intentions to travel today."

"That was very thoughtful, sir."

He waved a hand to the side, "It is no trouble." He guided her over to the first carriage with a hand under her elbow. "Georgiana, will you take Alex?"

"Really, sir, I am sure I should be comfortable in the servant's carriage. I cannot be sure Alex will not cry or need changing again." She clutched her son closer to her breast.

"I will not hear of it. We are three pairs of hands and shall be well able to keep the young master content. Should we require refreshing in any way, we shall stop." His lips twitched in a brief smile. "It truly is not a long way from here to Meryton."

Elizabeth hesitated, but seeing Georgiana was holding her hands out for Alex she handed him in. Raising her eyes to meet Mr. Darcy's, she offered him a smile and heartfelt words. "I shall never forget your goodness to a complete stranger. You and Georgiana are both so very kind."

Then with the assistance of the nearby footman, she climbed inside and settled beside Georgiana, taking Alex back.

Darcy stood frozen. The sunlight had dappled over the young widow's face when she smiled at him so sweetly. Still fresh from his conversation with Georgiana, it was her expression, bereft of guile or calculation which struck him and made his breath catch. The goodness of people, no matter their status… Perhaps Georgiana has the right of it.

Luckily, his sister and Mrs. Carrington were engaged with Alex and neither noticed his distraction. Darcy pulled at the hem of his waistcoat and climbed in to join them.

"Elizabeth, my brother and I are happy we could be of service." She shivered, "Imagine if we had not been there."

"But you were and we are both truly grateful." Elizabeth huffed out a laugh, "I am normally quite a courageous person. Not prone to the fits of nerves as I have displayed over these past days."

Darcy had settled in the backward facing seat, across from them. He cleared his throat. "You have been through an ordeal and without the comfort of your own family to assist. It is understandable if you do not retain your usual fortitude."

Raising an arm Darcy thumped his cane against the roof of the carriage. With a jerk the vehicle began moving, slowly picking up speed after turning onto the road.

Alex began to fuss a bit and she rocked him back to sleep. "He may need to eat again soon." She motioned to the dress she wore. "Mrs. Hobbs thought it would be more practical for traveling…" A blush was creeping up her neck suffusing her cheeks.

Only then did Darcy realize why she appeared different. Her dress was not the unrelieved black of mourning. The dark green certainly did something pleasing for her complexion, and brightened her eyes. "Let me know when you wish it and we shall stop either at an inn or I shall ride in the servant carriage." Darcy blushed to the tips of his ears.

"Oh, no. I should be the one who-"

"I prefer it this way. I can confer with my valet, and Georgiana and the maids will keep you company."

Elizabeth was too embarrassed to do more than nod.

When everyone's emotions had time to settle, the passengers quieted down to their own contemplation's. The slight rocking of the carriage soothed Alex into slumber. Darcy was watching Elizabeth, while she and Georgiana could not remove their eyes from little Alex. It was the first time he was spending more than a few minutes in her company, since the night of their meal and her confessions regarding her family.

His musings wove a thread from the history she shared of the Bennets to the man she married and it raised a thought to the forefront of his mind. One which had been niggling at him like an irritating gnat. "Carrington…" he murmured to himself. Then raised his voice, "I knew a Carrington in Cambridge - eldest son of the Earl of Carrington. I believe they hold an estate near Nottingham. He was a couple of years older than my year and I did not know him well. He.. ran with a very different crowd."

"My husband's eldest brother, I believe. Gregory was the third son, the youngest. He joined the navy after attending Eton, and did not have much to do with his family afterward. His world view was very different from theirs, I understand."

Darcy was not surprised. Even with the little he knew of the young widow seated across from him, he did not think she could marry a man similar to the Carrington he had been at Cambridge with. That man's reputation was on par with Wickham's.

"I already shared this information with Georgiana, but I met Gregory in London when I was staying with my uncle and aunt Gardiner." She chuckled, "We met at an assembly in June and he called the very next day and each day following. He was not at all bothered with my… Well, he accepted me for who I was. It was rather a whirlwind courtship. He had an aura quite similar to yours, Mr. Darcy. Strong and confident - like he could fix all the ills of the world." A sparkle glimmered in her eyes. "Although, he had a much livelier disposition."

Both Darcy siblings smiled at that, and Georgiana reminded Elizabeth, "I did tell you we Darcy's are reticent, no matter the society."

"You did, indeed, Georgiana." Elizabeth continued. "He too, was a man used to giving orders and being obeyed. His career advanced him to a captaincy at quite a young age. He assured me he would make admiral one day."

She sighed and looked out the window. "we married in July, settled our dwellings in Plymouth, and he sailed out on his ship in October. I knew his position came with risks, but I never believed our paths would lead us here. I wrote to him in November of our expectation, but I do not know if he received my letter…"

No one else spoke and the only sounds were the horses hoofs and the turning of the carriage wheels on the road.

Wishing to change the topic and to bring up one which perturbed him for some time, Darcy spoke, "I understood from Mrs. Hobbs there were some issues with finances. Did you not contact the Carringtons? After all, Alex is their grandson."

Elizabeth huffed, "The Carringtons? They are the last ones who would offer to assist!"

A/N I hope you enjoyed this chapter. I look forward to your thoughts.

Next chapter the Darcys meet Mr. Bennet and Jane.