Posted on Friday, 29 January 1999

"Fitzwilliam."

At the sound of his name, Fitzwilliam Darcy looked up from the book he was reading. He smiled as his wife waddled into the room, one arm drawn behind her, hand pressed to the small of her back. Leaving his book resting on a side table he rose to greet her with a smile, then gently helped to lower her onto the small loveseat he had been occupying.

"How are you feeling love?" he inquired.

Elizabeth smiled wanly, as their soon-to-arrive offspring took the opportunity to kick his mother in the spleen.

"A trifle bruised, but on the whole quite well." She reassured her husband, knowing that he tended to worry about her overly during her pregnancies, especially toward the end.

Darcy settled onto the ottoman in front of her and drew her feet into his lap. Removing her slippers, he began to massage each foot, while Elizabeth leaned her head back. Closing her eyes she let out a heart felt grown.

"Don't stop. That feels wonderful," she murmured, enjoying the heady sensation of her husband's skillful fingers kneading the aching muscles. Presently, his hands began to move upward, caressing her ankles, then her shins. Continuing in this fashion, he slowly skimmed up her legs till reaching her knees, eventually running his fingers underneath and tracing circles on the backside, where he knew she was particularly sensitive. At this, Lizzy looked up and found him starring at her with passion clouded eyes.

"You can't be serious." She remarked in amusement.

In response to that, Darcy untied her garters with nimble fingers and pulled her stockings off--flinging one after another over his shoulders where they landed in an untidy heap. This had both of Elizabeth's eyes wide open, and she realized that her husband was indeed in earnest.

"Be careful you do not start something we cannot finish Fitzwilliam." She warned with a grin. Not concerned with that possibility, Darcy raised her left foot up and gently bit down on her big toe.

"Wills!" she squealed, wholly enjoying the unexpected seduction, but still feeling obliged to point out:

"Do not forget where we are Dearest, anyone could enter the library at any moment."

Unfortunately, someone--or rather two someones, did enter the room, just as Darcy began nibbling in earnest.

"Father, Jack and I were wondering if you wanted to join us in a game of billiards." Nineteen-year-old Thomas drew to a halt two steps into the library, noting immediately his mother's discarded stockings, and the presence of her toe in his father's mouth. Having inherited his mother's disposition, he naturally found amusement in the situation, and he cast about in his mind for a comment that would provoke a humorous response from his father, but would not embarrass his mother too badly. Before he could attempt it however, Darcy separated himself from his wife's foot, and stated (in what he considered to be a rational tone), "Go away."

Jack had follow his brother into the room just in time to hear Darcy's remark. Noticing his mother's flushed cheeks and the way his father was cradling her foot, he was instantly concerned for her well being.

"Are your feet hurting you again, Mama?" Quickly reaching her side he sat beside his mother on the loveseat and gently maneuvered a pillow behind her to support her back. Turning he glared at his father,

"How often must I remind you that her back must be supported?" At eighteen, Jack was determined to be a doctor and found great delight in fussing over his mother in her condition. He also found great delight in sharing with anyone who would listen, his theories on any number of medical topics. Both Elizabeth and Darcy tried very hard to convince themselves that he in no way resembled his Aunt Mary in this habit.

"Jack," said Darcy.

"Yes father?"

"Go Away." This was stated firmly, Darcy's eyes never leaving Lizzy's face.

"Oh!" finally realizing what he and his brother had interrupted, Jack scrambled up, blushing fiercely.

"I don't know what you're so embarrassed about Puppy. After all, you were conceived in this room, very likely on that very loveseat." Thomas had finally found just the right remark. And the results where all he had hoped for. Jack was starring at him in horror, and both his parents appeared to be choking. Come to think of it, mayhap that hadn't been the wisest remark to make, what with his mother in her condition and all. Striding forward he reached out, grabbed his brother's arm and began dragging him out of the room, before his father recovered sufficiently to thrash him on the spot.

"I don't know what you're so upset about. After all, at least you were conceived here at Pemberley." Thomas continued. "I was conceived in the carriage on the road to London."

Jack regarded his brother with a look reserved for the use of younger brothers whom, no matter what their age, are uncertain of whether or not an older sibling is teasing them.

"You are jesting! Admit it!"

"It is the truth, I swear it. I heard father telling Uncle Bingley a few years ago. I also know where…"

The rest of their sons' conversation was lost as the lads moved down the hall, away from the library, and presumably toward the billiards room.

Darcy scrambled up from the ottoman and quickly hurried across the room where he rather belatedly slammed the door shut and locked it. Then, drawing a deep breath he turned to face his wife. It was worse than he'd feared. Elizabeth regarded him in cold fury, her arms crossed over her chest. Her tone was icy;

"You told Charles Bingley where our children were conceived?" Wincing, Darcy opened his mouth to reply, only to find himself cut off before he could begin.

"And in front of your son?"

"I didn't know Thomas was there, Darling. I was drunk." Darcy hadn't thought Elizabeth's eyes could get any narrower. He was wrong. He was also sinking--fast.

"You were drunk in front of the children?"

"Now Darling, do not become to upset. It can not be at all good for the babe." Darcy urged.

"It was during your labor with Annabelle. You'll recall Charles had brought Jane to be with you during your lying in, and that it was a particularly difficult delivery."

"I remember that quite well." Elizabeth interrupted. "However, I fail to see how that circumstance in anyway justifies your behavior! Really Mr. Darcy, I am at a loss to understand such actions from a man of your discretion. They do you no credit!"

Elizabeth's addressing him as 'Mr. Darcy' in such an outraged tone gave her husband some notion of just how far he had fallen in her esteem. She had not addressed him thusly in anything but a teasing manner for several years. Eight years to be precise. He never failed to cringe when he recalled THAT disagreement. Still, making up with Elizabeth afterward had been delightful in the extreme. Perhaps he might be fortunate enough to redeem himself quickly and benefit from the privacy afforded by the locked library door. To that end he hurried to continue;

"Mayhap you will also recall, Madam, that after a full day of your labor I had become," he paused, then continued in a halting voice, "quite distressed. To the point that Jane threatened to have me removed from your bed chamber." Here Darcy paused once again, nervously twisting his pinky ring, feeling more than slightly ill at the memory.

"Elizabeth, I do not relish seeing the woman I love in pain. Pain, I might add, that I am responsible for. I fear my distress was causing you additional anguish. And seeing this, Jane carried through on her threat. Charles came and collected me and brought me down to the library, where he treated me with the only remedy he knew of that would my ease my suffering."

Moving to kneel before Elizabeth, Darcy took her hand in his and continued softly, "I thought it very likely Elizabeth that I should never see you again." Bringing her hand to his lips he kissed it gently. "Leaving you at such a time was the most difficult thing I have ever done. Had I not -"

Here Elizabeth cut him off, placing her fingers gently over his mouth. Her fingers were followed closely by her lips pressing a tender kiss to his own. After a moment she drew back and regarded him with far more favor than she would have thought possible just a few short moments before.

"I believe that you have said enough, my darling. I must apologize for speaking so harshly to you."

Darcy captured her mouth again and moved to join her on the loveseat. Taking care to ensure that the pillow remained behind her back with one hand, he gently wove the fingers of his other hand into the thick waves of her hair. Breaking off the kiss Darcy starred deeply into his wife's lovely eyes. "Forgive me?"

Smiling, Lizzy reached out and wrapped one of his curls around her finger. Tugging it gently she conceded, "Always."

"Oh!" Lizzy dropped her hand to her stomach where their babe was once again making its presence known with a series of kicks. Darcy added his hand to hers and leaned down to press a quick kiss to Elizabeth's belly. Addressing the heaving mound he scolded, "Behave yourself! I'm trying to seduce your mother."

Lizzy burst out laughing. "Fitzwilliam you are the most persistent man!"

"Much to your delight, my dear." A roaming hand found its way down her leg and captured her foot once again. "Now… where were we?"

Getting up Darcy resumed his seat on the ottoman, then brought Lizzy's foot up to be nibbled on again. Much to her delight indeed.