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Posted on Tuesday, 13 April 1999

Mrs. Fitzwilliam Darcy approached the bed silently and softly. She was quite well aware of the servants behind her trying to desperately to hide their gasps and cries. She smoothed over one of his mischievous curls and looked into his deep brown eyes. Even in his weakness, the love in his eyes still held true and strong.

She picked up his hand gently and said, "Fitzwilliam.." she stopped trying to control her tears, lest he see them. "Fitzwilliam, I love you - I think I always have, since seeing you without that shield of prejudice, but I love you even more as the years have past my dearest."

"Eli.." he started to speak hoarsely then swallowed and tried again, "Elizabeth, once you asked me when I first started to love you. I..I believe it was exactly after you refused me."

"Oh, Fitzwilliam, don't speak of that," she hushed him.

He laughed to himself, "Oh, my dear Lizzy if you knew what I was thinking at that time. I think you would have the right and honor to despise me."

He cleared his throat and drunk a sip of water, "Charles was trying so hard to get me to dance, but you see I'm so scared of dancing because I am afraid of tripping over people's feet."

"Trip? My dearest," Elizabeth laughed at a certain memory of dancing with him, " You practically charged over my feet like a bull."

" My dear, whatever are you talking about?"

"Do I need to recollect your memory, Fitzwilliam?"

At Pemberley House in the Ball Room

"Elizabeth?"

"Hmm?" she asked lazily.

"What's that new dance that's suddenly all the rage?'

"Oh, you mean the waltz."

"Yes, the waltz. Would you-could you teach it to me?"

"Most certainly milord," she answered.

"Okay," she said, "Put your and here..No, Fitzwilliam on my waist..No! Not there! Fitzwilliam, do you want me to teach you or not?"

"I'm sorry," he said looking like a child caught with his favorite kind of candy. "Again?"

"Okay, now you are going to have to follow this beat-One-two-three, one-two-three..OW! FITZWILLIAM!"

She sat on the floor looking at her feet in pain. He knelt down by her side.

"Let me see your feet."

He looked at her feet closely and brought it up to his lips and kissed it. He looked up into her eyes with a painful sorrow and said hoarsely, "I'm sorry."

She looked up into his eyes and kissed his tears away, "I forgive you, my dear."

The overpowering emotion that connected and beaming threw their eyes, sparks of love, made them realize their was no way Fitzwilliam was going to learn the waltz, at least for today.

Posted on Thursday, 15 April 1999

Elizabeth smiled affectionately at Darcy as he slowly fell asleep. She tucked in his blanket and leaned over to give him a soft kiss on the lips.

"Night my dearest Darcy," she whispered and than hesitated, "Fitzwilliam, I have a feeling that we're not going to be the only Darcys soon."

There was no response for at that point Darcy was unobvious to the world. Elizabeth sighed and sat back inside her chair and began softly to sing a sweet lullaby. Minutes passed until Elizabeth, herself began drifting off into sleep.

"Fitzwilliam," she said sleepily, "I love you."

And if one listened real hard you could hear Fitzwilliam answering in his sleep, "My darling, I love you too."

Darcy woke up with a start. He smiled with a tender grin as he saw Elizabeth sleeping stooped over a chair with a smile on her face. Concerned because lately she was sleeping so very often. He vaguely remembered her complaining to Mrs. Reynolds of headaches and getting sick in the morning. Could it be possible that by being around him Elizabeth was catching his illness? If so, he thought, his face determined, no matter how much it hurts me - I cannot- I shall not let her be ill. For I would rather kill myself than to have anything happen to my Elizabeth.

He started when he saw Doctor Jenkins's face.

"Hello, there Darcy," he said cheerfully as he examined him. "You are looking much better. Feeling better, eh?"

"Very much so," he said fondly. Jenkins had been his doctor since he was a little lad and he always thought he was a good chap and looked up to him as a father figure since his father died. But of course, nothing could ever replace his father.

"Open your mouth and say Aaah," Jenkins instructed as he looked into his mouth.

"Aaaaah...."

"Very good," he smiled and winked at him, "You doing much better. I'm sure we'll get you better in no time your wife and I."

"Speaking of my wife," Fitzwilliam stared to say his face set and serious, "I'm worried about her. Do you think she may have contracted my illness."

"Describe her symptoms, Darcy," Jenkins instructed.

"Well, she seems to be very fatigued, for she sleeps often and is often sick in the morning," Darcy described his face lined with worry.

As Jenkins was writing this down, he tried to hide his smile. Obviously, Darcy didn't know the symptoms of a woman with child. Of course, Jenkins was not going to let him in on the secret until he had examined Mrs. Darcy.

"I'm sure," he started to say with a fake gloomy face, trying hard not to start laughing and pulling out cigars to celebrate with Darcy, "She is fine. Don't worry I'll examine her soon."

"Good," Darcy sighed in relief, "I knew I could count on you."

After Jenkins left, Darcy looked at Elizabeth closely his face lined with concern. He coughed twice and went to go get dressed.

When Darcy left the other room, Elizabeth immediately got up. She tried to hide the obvious: She was listening to their conversation and unlike Darcy she was very observant of people trying hard not to laugh.

She stifled a laugh and looked at Darcy's bed. He wasn't there? My gosh, he's sick! What is he doing out of bed.

"Fitzwilliam!" she called. "Where are you?"

Posted on Friday, 16 April 1999

"Fitzwilliam," she called again, more urgently. "Fitzwilliam, where are you?"

Suddenly Elizabeth heard a great thump coming from Darcy's dressing room. Elizabeth literally ran into Holmes, his manservant, as she rushed to his side.

"Fitzwilliam!" Elizabeth covered her hands with her face unable to believe her eyes. The Darcy who seemed so remarkably well this morning had had a relapse and was shaking and his face was deathly pale.

"Oh, my god, Fitzwilliam!" Elizabeth cried her tears freely flowing from her eyes. She turned to Holmes and said sharply to him, "Holmes, get me a wet cloth now."

"But..Mrs.Darcy-" he stuttered.

"Don't ask any questions. Go now!" she demanded sparks flowing out of her eyes.

Elizabeth ran to their room as fast as she could to grab a pillow out of their room. After she came back she saw Holmes bent down over Darcy gently dabbing the wet cloth over his forehead. Elizabeth immediately felt guilty about yelling at Holmes for she knew how much Holmes cared about Darcy.

"Thank you, Holmes," said Elizabeth softly as she went over to him. She patted his shoulder. "I thank you most gratefully for your help."

Holmes smiled wearily at Mrs. Darcy. He had always liked her. Ever since she had came to Pemberley those five years ago it had been the happiest place in the world. He had never seen his master so happy since his parents' death.

He handed the wet cloth over to Mrs. Darcy,"I am ever in your service madam."

Elizabeth smiled tearfully and wistfully as she remembered the first time she had heard those words.

"Thank you, Holmes."

Elizabeth smiled as she bent down to kiss Darcy's cheek. She hesitated and turned to Holmes. "Could you please help me move him to the other room."

Without saying a word Holmes bent over, hefted Darcy's body in his arms and moved him into Elizabeth and Darcy's bedroom. He set him gently on the bed and tucked him in gently like a child.

Elizabeth turned to him and said softly,"Tell Mrs. Reynolds to send for Doctor Jenkins, please. I would like to be alone with him about thirty minutes to get him settled."

"Of course, madam as you wish," said Holmes as he left the room.

As Elizabeth leaned over Darcy and pulled the covers around him she brushed her lips against his and kissed his cheek. She began rubbing the wet cloth over his feverish head and although he could not hear because he was unconscious she began talking to him.

"Do you remember the first time you told me 'I am ever at your service, madam'?"

She sighed and looked at him tearfully. "I... I believe it was the day after you married me. Fitzwilliam, you wouldn't mind it terribly if I told you about it, would you?"

He remained silent. There was no sign of him waking up.

Elizabeth wiped a tear away from her cheek,"Fitz...Oh, okay here it goes."

Pemberley House

"Do you know how lucky I am to marry someone like you," Fitzwilliam smiled as he looked down upon her.

"No," Elizabeth said coyly,"Remind me or I mean remind yourself."

"Ooo," he raised his eyebrows, "You are a flutterbudget, eh?"

"Flutterbudget?"

"Well, it's my way of saying a smart butt without really saying it."

"I see," then Elizabeth laughed, "You are a Scrooge, eh?"

"What is that supposed to mean, Mrs. Fitzwilliam Darcy?"

Mrs. Fitzwilliam Darcy, how good it felt to say that to her, and she liked being called that enormously.

"A grumpy old man," she laughed as Darcy scowled at her. She ran her hands up his shoulders and kissed him passionately. He returned the kiss with equal passion.

"Fitzwilliam," she murmured under breath.

"Yes, my Elizabeth?"

"Can you do something for me?"

"I am ever at your service, madam," Fitzwilliam smiled at her with passionate love in those almond eyes.

"Promise me," Elizabeth hesitated, "Promise me you will love me forever."

"Elizabeth," he said huskily," Even when I do meet my maker, I will never be truly in heaven without you. I will need you always and until I met you I never was truly myself. So you ask me if I will love you forever, and I answer with my soul yes. And my Elizabeth, nothing will stop me from doing that."

She answered him with a kiss with so much passion it filled and resided into both of their souls. And it can be said Mr. Darcy acted only as a husband violently in love can do.

Elizabeth turned to Fitzwilliam lying on the bed, his face deathly pale. She cried into his chest and said, "Fitzwilliam, I love you. I need you. Please get better please."

As Elizabeth cried her heart out, Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy showed no signs of waking up any time soon. Doctor Jenkins entered the room unnoticed by Elizabeth and looked at her sadly.

It did not look good, Jenkins thought. But yet, with love like Darcy and Elizabeth's there was always hope. And in situations like these hope meant everything.

Posted on Monday, 19 April 1999

Elizabeth whirled around and saw Doctor Jenkins. Sniffling and brushing back the tears on her face she turned to him and gave him a weak smile. "I am very glad you could make it, Doctor," Elizabeth said quietly, sitting on the bed. "It's so surprising, Mr. Darcy seemed so much better the day before. He was so full of life."

Doctor Jenkins looked at her sadly, in sympathy. He cleared his voice and asked, "Would you mind if I examine Mr. Darcy alone?"

Elizabeth hesitated wondering if she should leave her husband alone. What if- what if something happened to him and she wasn't there? I couldn't ever forgive, myself, she thought. She looked at the good doctor still hesitating.

The doctor noticed her hesitation and gave her a smile to reassure her. "If his condition changes Mrs. Darcy I will warn you at a first moment's notice."

"O..Okay, if you are sure," said Elizabeth indecisive. Before she left she turned to her dearest husband and kissed him and whispered,"I...I will be back my dear Fitzwilliam. I love you."

Then with great regret she walked out of the room. She walked over to the writing desk, which was once Fitzwilliam's mother's and sat down. She pulled out a sheet of paper and began writing.

Dearest Georgiana,

My dear sister I must most urgently ask for your presence and Richard's. Your brother has made a turn for the worse, unfortunately. I wish for you to come as soon as possible. I am hope against hope that by the time you come he will become much better.

Your sister,

Elizabeth Darcy

Mrs. Richard Fitzwilliam. She sighed at the memory. Little did Georgiana know that she and Fitzwilliam had a little wager going on her and Richard's wedding.

"Okay, milord," Elizabeth drawled at Darcy as they were sleeping together in bed, "How about a wager."

"Lizzy," he sighed as he brushed her dark luscious curls, "You know I'm not a betting man."

"I know, I know," laughed Elizabeth, "But, what if it were about your sister and Richard."

He sat up in bed in shock, "My baby Georgiana and Richard...I'm going to kill him."

"You can't deal with Richard like you dealt with Wickham," Elizabeth said reading his mind. "She loves him and he is honourable. He is not Wickham, Fitzwilliam. He was romantic to her, he asked if he could kiss her...Unlike some people I know."

"But," Fitzwilliam exclaimed, "You asked me to kiss you!"

"I'm betting a month they get married," said Elizabeth hastily changing the subject.

"Six months," Fitzwilliam said, "Mr. Honourable has to ask me first."

He turned and looked at her concerned, "Does it really bother you that I didn't ask to kiss you?"

Elizabeth shook her head smilingly, "But it does hurt my reputation that I ask first."

"Would it-" Fitzwilliam started to say and whispered hoarsely, "That I wanted to kiss you more than you wanted to kiss me."

"Fitzwilliam," she whispered.

He kissed her.

"Thank you," she whispered.

Elizabeth sighed and looked at Georgiana's letter remembering. She reached into one of the drawers to pick up a Darcy seal when her fingers fingered something.

She pulled it out. A letter? It said to Mrs. Elizabeth Darcy. And remarkably it was from Fitzwilliam. It was written very recently.

Dearest Elizabeth,

Posted on Tuesday, 20 April 1999

Elizabeth put closed the letter and thought better of reading it. First, she thought, I have to send this letter to Georgiana.

"Mrs. Crispin," she called.

A lady wearing glasses with a friendly face and green sparks in her hazel eyes entered the room. Mrs. Crispin's husband was under employment of the Darcys' too. He was their butler, and they were both in their mid-forties.

"Yes, madam," Mrs. Crispin answered after curtseying to her mistress.

"Could you please see that this letter gets sent off to Mrs. Richard Fitzwilliam?"

"Yes, madam," she hesitated before she left the room. "Mrs. Darcy -"

"Yes, Mrs. Crispin," Elizabeth asked kindly, her eyebrows raised.

"I hope- I hope that Mr. Darcy gets better."

"Thank you Mrs. Crispin," Elizabeth said warmly as servant left the room, she added under her breath, "I shall not know what to do if he doesn't."

She went over by Fitzwilliam's door to check on him. The doctor saw her and told her abruptly to leave. Elizabeth sighed and went into the sitting room and sat into her favorite chair.

She reached for the letter. She had almost forgotten it. She opened her letter curiously and read what it maintained inside.

Dearest Elizabeth,

Do not be alarmed, my dearest madam on receiving this letter for it will only tell how much I honestly admire and love you. I suspect if you are reading this letter I am no longer to be in your arms to comfort you when you are sick, unhappy, or overbearing with tremendous joy, or to love you through my arms.

But, what you must understand, my dearest love, is that I will love you even when I am gone, always. Everything I am or done is because of you. You pierce my very soul. Every time I look at you I am touched by happiness. When you accepted me to be your husband, I was allowed a little part of heaven. Now, five years past, I can say even when I am in heaven it will not be heaven without you. You light up my life just by looking at you. I bless God, that I am lucky enough to love such a wonderful creature like you.

As I leave you, my dearest, I am unable to say or write the precise words I really want to say. I leave you know hoping to leave you with the memories we cherished and love. I will only add, my soul mate; I love you and God Bless you always.

Yours forever,

Fitzwilliam Darcy

Elizabeth dropped the letter on the floor in tearful silence. He's not dead, she thought trying to reassure herself, he's not dead.

"Mrs. Darcy!" shrieked Mrs. Reynolds running down the stairs as quickly as she could. "I.. I think you'd better come quick!"

Without a second thought Elizabeth dashed upstairs, not knowing which she ran to; hope or despair.

Posted on Wednesday, 21 April 1999

Elizabeth dashed upstairs as fast as she could. She practically charged over the servants. She murmured a hurried sorry as she rushed past their way. The servants leaned against the wall frightened to be in Mrs. Darcy's way. They had never seen their mistress this type of distress or worried before, but they perfectly understood her distress.

Finally, Elizabeth reached the third floor, which Darcy occupied. She rushed by the door and stood by it, tense. She sighed to calm herself. It's okay, she thought, Don't worry it's going to be okay.

Her hand was shaking as she gripped the doorknob. She felt the cool metal against her hand and thought sadly to herself- that her heart would be like this if Fitzwilliam died.

She opened the door slowly. One-by-one her feet crept into the room. She was so afraid of what exactly she might find.

"Doctor Jenkins," Elizabeth said nervously.

"Oh, so now you care more about the good doctor than about me?" asked a man with unruly hair and a mischievous glint to his eye,

"Oh, my God! Fitzwilliam...you are alive, and awake," she rushed to his arms and kissed him passionately. "And truly mine forever."

Fitzwilliam turned to her and brushed his hand along her face, "Don't you realize I am always yours forever?"

Elizabeth's only answer was the look in her eye; the dreamfelt, devoted, and truly in love with the man she held before her. This answer was quite enough for Fitzwilliam as he kissed her passionately not wanting to let her go.

Doctor Jenkins entered the room carrying a couple of bottles of medicine. He cleared his throat, embarrassed.

"Umm...I see you have found Mr. Darcy," he said to Elizabeth fumbling up his words.

"Indeed I have," her eyes never leaving her husband's face. "I hope there will be no relapses after this?"

"I can assure you," said Doctor Jenkins smiling, "Not until he becomes a very old man like me."

"Oh, thank you, dear good sir," said as she went flying into his arms to hug him.

Suddenly she stopped. "I'm...sorry," she said. "Doctor Jenkins may I talk to you?"

"Sure, my dear madam."

As they exited the room, Fitzwilliam thought- what is wrong with my dearest Elizabeth? If she caught my illness and cannot live- I will wish to live a happy death to be with her. God, please help me, he thought desperately.

"Excuse me," said Elizabeth with a radiant smile as she interrupted his thoughts, "Fitzwilliam, you are to be a father."

"A father? Me?" Fitzwilliam exclaimed, he marveled at this prospect. Then he looked at Elizabeth and met her eye. He kissed her softly and passionately. "I wish most ardently that we have a child as half as good as you."

As he was about to kiss her again, he was interrupted by a knock on the door.

"Come in," Elizabeth and Fitzwilliam called at the same time and then laughed.

"Excuse me," Georgiana grinned as she folded her arms and her eyebrows raised, "Fitzwilliam aren't you supposed to be sick?"

"Not anymore, my dear," he said as he reached and hugged her, then whispered, "My dear Aunt Georgiana."

"You are with child, Aunt Elizabeth?" Georgiana exclaimed.

"Yes," said Elizabeth radiantly, then finally caught Georgiana's last remark. "YOU ARE TOO?"

"Yes!" she laughed. Then Fitzwilliam, Georgiana, and Elizabeth hugged each other.

"Wait," Georgiana cried, "Let me get Richard and we can make a toast."

Elizabeth and Fitzwilliam smiled to each other as Georgiana left the room.

"Just between the two of us," Fitzwilliam said as he kissed her forehead, "I don't think life is any better than this."

Elizabeth didn't answer, but gave Fitzwilliam an answer with her eyes which he quite understood. As long as they had each other, life would always carry happiness for the two of them. And life always did.

The End