AN – Thank you for all the review, favs and followers. I am utterly astounded. I'm afraid this is only a short chapter. As we are getting down to the "business" end of the story, the rating changes. Due to the content I have to make this a T. Read on to find out why! Oh, to find the story which gave me the muse, look under the author "ChehireSorrow" or the title "Liberties Taken" on this site. There is now a follow up.

'Mrs Reynolds,' Lizzy glance around to ensure they would not be overheard, 'I am afraid for Georgiana.' Raising an eyebrow, the older lady suggested the mistress continue. 'I stayed with my Aunt Sarah during her last pregnancy. I see none of the signs. In deed, I have observed Mary closely these last three months and spoken with her often. I know they are at different stages but,' unsure how to go on, Elizabeth sighed. 'Should she not be increasing? Yet how can she with the amount she eats? It is hardly enough to fill a bird. I have heard of young ladies pining away in such a fashion. Even missing their courses because they do not eat.'

'Perhaps,' Harriet offered, 'it is time to call for the midwife. Teresa is a sensible woman who attended Mrs Darcy's confinement. She has been in the business many years and has much experience. She can be trusted with this. Her links to Pemberley are strong and she knows what she is about. If there is to be a babe, Teresa will know, even at this early stage.'

'Four months, or there about is not early,' Lizzy commented. 'Both Aunt Sarah and Mary clearly showed.'

'For a first child,' Harriet stated, 'a woman will not increase much before the quickening, at least enough to show beneath her gown. The midwife will wish to examine Georgiana. Have you been able to talk to her?'

'She does not wish to talk of that time in her life,' Elizabeth frowned. 'We have managed to stabilise her emotions but you know there are days she spends in lonely contemplation. Even her music, my husband tells me is much darker than it once was.'

'Yes,' Mrs Reynolds acknowledged, 'the staff are all talking of it.' Sighing, Harriet touched her mistress on the arm. 'When the midwife comes, she will require Miss Darcy to be abed and undressed. My dearest husband and I lost a child early in our marriage. We never conceived again, Mrs Darcy. I tell you this because you must ready Georgiana for what is to come. The process will be uncomfortable and every intimate,' warned the older woman.

'I had not considered the mechanics,' Elizabeth could only imagine what the older lady eluded too. Growing up on the farm, she had heard tales of the farmhands pulling babies from their deceased mothers.

'How are we to accomplish such a ruse? You and I both know Mr Darcy does not abide by deception of any kind. He finds this situation, even for the sake of his sister, abhorrent,' Lizzy almost cried.

'Have Georgiana come to your room tomorrow morning,' Mrs Reynolds directed. 'When the staff see Teresa enter the master's chambers, they will hope for the patter of small feet to grace the halls of Pemberly. We have all waited a long time to have a Mistress and the hope of a new generation. When is it discovered that the child is Miss Georgiana's, they will support this deception. Mr Darcy has been generous to his servants and they will repay him in kind.'

'I can only pray you are correct,' she left the housekeeper with a sad heart.

'Well,' Lizzy demanded. For the last quarter of an hour she'd been pacing before her bedroom window, playing with the cross at her throat. Georgiana insisted she stay for the procedure once Teresa explained what would occur. Terrified, the young girl gritted her teeth through the examination. Meanwhile her husband's foot fall could be heard in the Master's parlour.

Shaking her head in sad astonishment, Teresa returned her attention to Georgiana. 'Tell me how this happened?'

'I,' looking wildly to Elizabeth, she smiled warmly, encouraging the young woman to retell her story. Seating herself on the bed, Lizzy held Georgiana's hand in support. 'I convinced myself to be in love. I agreed to an elopement. The day before we were to leave for Gretna Green, he asked if he could kiss me. I,' both Teresa and Elizabeth made soothing sounds so Georgiana would continue. 'I let him take me in his arms. Then he said I would like what he would do next even better but we had to lay down together. He lifted my skirts and said we would not make love completely but he must see me. All of me. I would not let him take off my dress. I have never felt so,' swallowing hard, Georgiana flicked her hand in explanation, 'but I knew it to be wrong. He told me once we were married he would do other things, better things that would make this laying together seem like nothing. Still,' she began to cry, 'I knew I should not let him touch me and place himself inside me.'

'This man is correct,' Teresa commented with a wide, bright smile. 'You did not make love with him. At least not completely.'

'But he placed something inside of me. Is that not how a child is made?' astonished Georgiana thought back to the encounter. Her cheeks coloured as she remembered the events of that day.

'You are a maiden still, Miss Darcy,' Teresa waited for the reaction.

'How,' Elizabeth asked then blushed furiously.

She knew, in that moment she knew. Her husband had kissed her last night, as he had every night since she'd allowed more than a chaste peck on her cheek. They had been playing with fire this last month. Each kiss became deeper, hands exploring in the short moments of passion before retiring to a lonely bed. Each moment getting longer and harder to pull away. It had been delightful, this new sensation as he lifted her night dress and knelt before her. His hands had stroked her senseless as his lips kissed her intimately. Yet he reassured her they could not make a child this way. He called it a most inappropriate kiss but one they could enjoy until she felt ready to share her bed, until they knew if Georgiana was with child.

In her passion, Lizzy had asked if she could do anything in return. Fitzwilliam smiled but said nothing. Sending her to her bed, she head him exhale and whisper, 'one day, I'll tell you one day.' Then she knew, he would wait until Teresa gave her verdict. That day had arrived.

'I see you understand,' Teresa watched, trying to hide her mirth. She then turned and explained to Georgiana.

'There won't be a child,' she sobbed hysterically.

'No,' Teresa stated firmly, before clarifying exactly what had to occur for that outcome.

In the background, Elizabeth sighed with relief. Not only for Georgiana's reputation, but her new found knowledge. The midwife made it sound so natural. A shiver of anticipation journeyed through her body as she understood her readiness to become Mrs Darcy in word as well as deed. This event only increased her need to love her husband in every way possible.

'Thank you,' Elizabeth said, returning to Georgiana's side. She offered what comfort she could. 'Please send my husband in. I will explain.'

'I do not know,' the girl in her arms managed brokenly, 'if I am happy or sad.'

'Both, I imagine,' Lizzy soothed. Looking up into Fitzwilliam concerned eyes, she shook her head. His expression stated Teresa told him everything.

Once the storm subsided, Georgiana wanted to return to her rooms. Accompanying the girl, Elizabeth ensured she slept before leaving. Exhausted from the all the expunged emotion, Lizzy tucked the younger woman into her bed before returning to her own chamber. As she expected, her husband awaited her.

One look and she'd become lost. His dark eyes bored into her soul. In that moment, Elizabeth Darcy, having lived with her husband for almost three months understood she'd fallen irrevocably in love with him. Without a word she picked up every thread of courage and held out her hand. Standing at the edge of her bed, she requested he unlace her dress with a heated look over her shoulder.

'You are sure,' he whispered in a harsh tone filled with longing. Until he had her complete agreement, Darcy would not touch her. Once he did, there would be no going back.

'I am sure,' she didn't mean to sound so breathless and frightened.

What followed Elizabeth could only describe as beautiful. She knew two things by the time they finally redressed for the day. Mr Darcy would be sharing her bed on a permanent basis from this day on. Secondly, she would give him the heir he desperately wanted for Pemberley.

'Elizabeth,' her name rolled off his tongue, swirling with so many emotions. Ready to step out of their chamber, he needed to tell her of the feelings churning within him.

Looking into his eyes, Elizabeth understood she'd brought the proud, somewhat arrogant man to his knees. He'd fallen in love with her almost from the moment they'd arrived at Pemberley. She'd seen the gradual change in them, in their relationship but mostly in the looks and touches Fitzwilliam offered on a daily basis.

Once again rising to the challenge, Lizzy offered, 'I love you too.' She found herself swept up in his strong and steadfast arms. Before he could entice her back to the marriage bed, Mrs Darcy led her husband from the room. They needed to go down to dinner, for Georgiana's sake.

'I do not deserve you,' he whispered hoarsely, until he noticed that stubborn look in her eye. Mr Darcy had learnt when to say no more.

No we are not finished yet. Stay tuned for the next chapter.