Author's note: Sorry, again to all you who want me to update The Return to Pemberley, but I hope you will like this one. Sorry if it seems a little melodramatic. Hehe, those ones are always funny though. Hope any improvements are to your liking.
"Oh, Jane, I hope it does not hurt as much as you say, yet I know you are telling the truth. How one person alone is to bear such pain is beyond me." Elizabeth confessed, rubbing her impregnated stomach.
"Lizzy, people have done it for centuries; things can not have changed now, otherwise we should have been informed. Besides, it is all worth it in the end. I can't remember what life was like before Adelaide (1)."
"Oh, yes. I would not trade in my darling little niece for any amount of wealth. Adelaide… hello little one, are you enjoying your nap?" Elizabeth cooed at the bundle of cloth which currently resided in her sister's arms. Adelaide was the picture of perfection in a child so young; she took after her father, though with such an unassuming temper that could only belong to her mother.
"Lizzy, I can't wait until your child is born. It is such fun being a mummy." Jane admired her daughter's fine face.
"Only a few weeks left. But the pain, Jane, the pain. How am I to endure the pain? I am so frightened; as much as I want to have a baby, I don't want to have to endure pain."
"Elizabeth, we have gone through this so many times, it is not possible for you to not know."
"Yes, yes, I just detest thinking of it. Mr. Darcy is not so inclined to think of it either, though he shall not be the one forced to put up with it."
"Then don't think of it. It will come at some point in time no matter how hard you speculate on it."
"Lydia! Mr. Wickham!-" came a cry from across the room, "-It is so wonderful to see you again! It has been so long since our last visit, so long. My darling it is so good to see you again. I would have feared something wrong if you had not come; you have not written in a sen'night. Oh, but where is my granddaughter? Mary (2), Mary? Oh, there you are child. Will you give your grandmamma a hug?" Mrs. Bennet was inexplicably happy at the arrival of her youngest daughter. Little Mary peeked out from behind her mother's skirts, and tentatively allowed her grandmother to hug her. Mary was two years of age and had been ignored so many times as to make her a horribly conniving and deceitful little girl. Though Mary took greatly after her mother, always wishing to be the centre of attention, she looked a great deal like her father.
"Jane, we had not invited Lydia and Mr. Wickham, how did they come to know of our holding a ball?"
"That is a question only they can answer. Knowing Lydia as we do, it is most likely she heard of it through idle gossip, and decided she had best pay visit to her dear family. They will most likely give the excuse of their not having a place to reside at present. It is most unusual for Wickham to come along as well."
"His appearance here is bent on causing trouble; I must speak to Mr. Darcy. Excuse me Jane."
"Oh, I am coming too, Lizzy. You know I have no wish for trouble." Jane and Elizabeth made their way across the ballroom towards a grave looking Mr. Darcy and Mr. Bingley.
"…I have no idea what their coming here means, Darcy, but it is not likely they are intent on causing harm." Mr. Darcy shook his head in disbelief.
"His coming here is not to be tolerated; I can not have that scoundrel under my roof, not after all he has done," spotting an approaching Elizabeth, "Did you know of their coming, Elizabeth?"
"No, indeed, I did not even know of their being in the vicinity. Jane and I were just discussing how they even knew to come here."
They were soon joined by a concerned looking Georgiana.
"I had not known you invited them, Fitzwilliam. I would not have dared come if I had known. Pray tell me you didn't invite them."
"I did not invite them, they came just the same. But it is necessary to rid ourselves of them; otherwise I will not be responsible for my actions." Mr. Darcy said bitterly.
"Surely you are joking, Darcy."
"I wish I were, Bingley. However, at present I do not trust my temper."
"Let me speak to them, Fitzwilliam. Lydia will listen to persuasion; it is not to be guaranteed she will take it at all well, but she will not dare to stay." Elizabeth was concerned for her husband's mental well-being, and promptly headed over towards Lydia, Jane and little Adelaide following behind.
"Eliza! Oh, it has been so long since we last saw each other. My, how big you have gotten! How far along are you?" Lydia was clearly gladdened in seeing her elder sister.
"Eight months. Lydia we must speak. I don't know how you came to know of our ball, but…"
There was an anonymous wail and Elizabeth whipped around in time to see Mr. Wickham pull a knife on Mr. Darcy. Elizabeth's thoughts were only of her husband, the manner of which, is so clear, that nothing can be missed in not informing you of any exact fears.
"Wickham! What are you doing?!" Lydia cried in sheer terror of her husband. She seemed to finally have consciously realized what she had married herself into.
"Something I should have done a long time ago, Lydia! Darcy, you have ruined my life, as well as forcing me to marry this wench. I shall not endure this humiliation any longer. You have ruined my life, and tonight I will ruin yours."
Wickham advanced a step towards Mr. Darcy, a menacing look in his eye. Suddenly, in a way clearly meant to surprise the ignorant, he spun on his heel and started his advance in the opposite direction, towards the very terrorized Mrs. Darcy.
Adelaide: my character, please do not steal
Mary: Ditto.