A/N: For some reason I legitimately can't remember, I took this story off this site. Maybe I had been drinking? IDK. So I'm just returning this to its original home. Don't feel the need to leave a review. Many of you have in the past and I remember your kind words. :-)

Oh, what have I gotten myself into Lizzy thought. It was her wedding day, but she was far from a jubilant bride. She had been determined that nothing but the deepest love would entice her into marriage. She had been wrong. After her father's misfortune and dear Jane's missed opportunity to marry Mr. Bingley, she'd had no other choice. She'd had to accept Mr. Darcy's proposal.

Her cheeks reddened at the thought of that maddening afternoon. How she'd loathed herself for agreeing to his condescending proposal. He'd told her that he greatly admired and loved her. It was difficult to believe such words when he spoke with a marked look of disdain on his face. It had been on the tip of her tongue to throw his words back to him, but thoughts of her family had caused her to pause and reflect. Her father's estate was not doing well. With mother's spending habits and Jane's lack of marital prospects, her family was sure to be in dire straits within a year. These were the thoughts in her head when she'd consented to being Mr. Darcy's wife. Not love, not hope of a happy marriage, but the promise of security and protection for her family.

She sat silently as Abigail curled her hair into perfect little ringlets. Elizabeth smiled. She looked quite pretty, almost fine enough to marry someone of Mr. Darcy's stature. It was not lost on her that her station in life and her family might be a source of embarrassment for him. She had been raised a gentleman's daughter, but she still had trepidations about her new life as the wife of one of the wealthiest men in England. Blowing the hair out of her face, she wondered why she even cared if she or her family embarrassed him. It would do him good to experience a little humility.

Elizabeth was pulled from her thoughts by the sound of her mother's voice. "Abigail, work on Miss Jane's hair. She needs to look positively stunning. I haven't given up hope on her and Mr. Bingley just yet."

Rolling her eyes, Elizabeth said, "Mother, please don't meddle. If Jane and Mr. Bingley are meant to be together, they will be."

"Lizzy, where would you get such a notion? I wouldn't dream of sticking my nose where it doesn't belong. Anyway, I didn't come here to talk about your sister Jane. I've come to speak to you about your wifely duties."

She was certain that her mother wished to speak to her about the physical aspect of marriage, but since her mother was the last person with whom she would like to discuss such things, she feigned ignorance. "Mr. Darcy's housekeeper is very knowledgeable. I know that I will be able to direct all my questions to her."

Wrapping her shawl around her, Mrs. Bennet looked appalled. "I should think not. As your mother I'm the most qualified to give you this advice." Clearing her throat, she began, "Mr. Darcy will visit your bedroom as is his duty and right as your husband. When he does, you must not refuse him. He won't be there long and he will leave you in peace shortly after. While he is…um…with you, I find it is best to think on pleasant things such as dresses you would like to have made or some gossip that you've heard. Once you are with child, his visits will stop altogether."

At this point, Lizzy was sure she looked like a tomato. She gasped, "Mother, thank you, but I don't think I need to hear anymore."

"Very well, then. My advice was kindly meant. You can't say that I didn't do my duty as mother."

After her mother left, Lizzy pressed her hands to her cheeks. Surely, Mr. Darcy wouldn't want to…At least not so soon? What did she really know about this man? It wasn't as if they had discussed that aspect of their marriage. She expected to have to bear his heir, just not so shortly after marriage. Lizzy hoped they could wait a few years. Maybe his presence wouldn't be quite so distasteful then. She sent up a silent prayer. Please, don't have him lie with me tonight.

Hearing a knock on the door, she called, "Who is it?"

"It's me. Jane."

"Come in."

Hugging her sister, she looked to the ceiling to keep from crying. "Jane dearest, give me courage. Otherwise, I don't know how I can be wed to such a boorish man."

Jane's face crumpled, squeezing her sister's heart. "This is all my fault. I wasn't able to hold Mr. Bingley's interest."

"No, this is not your fault. I can do this. I can bear it. I will just miss you so. You'll have to visit me and often."

"I will come as often as you'd like. Mr. Darcy can't be that bad or Mr. Bingley wouldn't have such a high opinion of him. I know that Wickham has a low opinion of him, but Mr. Bingley has made it clear that Darcy wasn't to blame."

"Of course Bingley would believe that. He is a good friend after all. I just so hoped to marry for love, Jane. I never thought that who I wed would be the key to our family's happiness."

"Lizzy, all will be well. You might find that you grow to like Darcy and in time feel a greater affection for him. I would think it impossible to have a man's children without feeling something for him."

"Perhaps, you're right," Lizzy said, trying to calm her own nerves.

Another knock was heard. This time it was her father, Mr. Bennet. "Well, Lizzy. Are you ready? You will soon be Lizzy Bennet no more, but the highly respectable Mrs. Fitzwilliam Darcy."

"Father, I will forever be your Lizzy." A tear fled from the corner of her eye. She couldn't help it. Her whole life had changed in mere months. She would be moving far away with a husband with whom she could barely have a civil conversation. On top of that, she would be separated for weeks and months from her family and friends. She wasn't prepared for today. She didn't think she'd ever be ready. How she wished she didn't have to go through with this wedding.

An hour later, Lizzy was walking down the aisle to her betrothed. He wasn't smiling and he appeared to be brooding. As much as she disliked him, she couldn't deny that he was a handsome man. She'd never understood why he'd chosen her for his bride when he could have whomever he wanted. Stepping forward, she took her place beside him and the ceremony began.

As the clergyman spoke, Lizzy had a hard time following over the pounding beat of her heart. I can do this. I can do this, she told herself.

"Do you, Elizabeth Bennet, take this man, Fitzwilliam Darcy, to be your lawfully wedded husband?"

It was her turn, but the words wouldn't come out.