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The younger woman looked doubtful and so Madeleine continued more seriously; “If anything, I believe that that is the most important advice I can give you. You and Mr. Darcy share a love as strong as any I’ve been privileged to observe.

However, you are also both very independent, self-sufficient, and, dare I say, stubborn people.

He, in particular, is accustomed to making decisions alone; it may be done in the best interests of his sister and everyone else who depends on him but still, he has the power of doing as he sees fit and he is much more proactive in wielding that power than your father, for example.

The two of you will need to learn the art of compromise, and to do that, you must communicate your thoughts and wishes to him, and make him do the same with you. ”

Madeleine was glad to see her niece listening so closely. “So, when you are feeling more yourself, I hope you bring out those architectural plans again and talk about them with Mr. Darcy.”

Feeling increasingly reassured, Elizabeth queried, “Is it proper to be speaking of such things before the wedding?”

Her aunt nodded in understanding. “I suppose that convention holds for a young lady to visit her future chambers with only her mother or another female relative and the housekeeper. They make decisions regarding wall hangings, furniture, drapes and such so that the rooms may be updated before her marriage. In this situation, however, the alterations you are considering sound much more extensive and will require far more time and planning to accomplish. I think it’s perfectly reasonable for you to discuss the plans now with your future husband. ”

Mrs. Gardiner tilted her head and considered.

“I’ll talk about it with your uncle; he tends to be stricter about these things, but I would suggest that you discuss the issues with Mr. Darcy privately.

When the two of you have decided on the arrangements you prefer, then your uncle and I can accompany you to visit the rooms and so forth. ”

Elizabeth burst into a relieved smile. “Thank you, Aunt. I can’t tell you how grateful I am to have your advice, and to know that I may confide in you.”

The two ladies sat quietly for some minutes, one thinking of her future marriage and the other considering the lasting effects of Mrs. Bennet’s temperament on the insecurities of that woman’s daughters.

A light tapping on the door interrupted the pair’s cogitations. It was opened to reveal a very worried-looking Miss Darcy. “Elizabeth? My brother wished for me to check if you were well, and if not, if there is anything we might do for your comfort?” she asked timidly.

While Elizabeth reassured the girl that she was perfectly well, Mrs. Gardiner checked her watch and exclaimed. “Goodness, Lizzy! We have been talking for more than an hour! And after I had promised them all so faithfully that I would return and report on your condition.”

Feeling reassured, Georgiana smiled softly. “My brother is… a bit concerned.”

At that moment, another knock came from the door and Mrs. Reynolds appeared. “Miss Bennet, the Master asked that I check on you and determine if the doctor should be sent for.”

Elizabeth slumped back in her chair, laughing and thoroughly embarrassed that the entire household seemed to be aware of her indisposition. “For heaven’s sake, ‘tis my monthlies! Surely that is simple enough for him to understand!” she exclaimed in exasperation.

Suddenly recalling her company, Lizzy turned back in time to catch an amused look passing between Mrs. Gardiner and the housekeeper.

“Pardon me; with four sisters and an… shall we say, uninhibited mother, I am accustomed to a certain frankness on the subject. How would you recommend that I reassure Mr. Darcy that I do not require a physician, only a bit of time and rest to recover my spirits?”

Georgiana was completely tongue-tied, having grown up first with a withdrawn, widowed father and then with a bachelor brother, she had never known other women to discuss such matters.

Her maid arranged for such necessities as were needed each month and she had learned to hide any symptoms from her brother and cousin so as not to make them uncomfortable.

While Miss Darcy was considering how wonderful it would be to have an older, wiser sister to whom she might go to for advice and Mrs. Reynolds was trying very hard not to laugh aloud, Elizabeth’s forthright nature asserted itself.

She stood and announced, “Very well, then. If we are to be married, he will have to be made to understand.” Before the others could say anything, she was out the door and tripping down the stairs.

The other three women watched her depart with wide eyes and open mouths. “Oh my,” breathed Mrs. Reynolds before dropping into a chair and bursting into giggles for the first time in many years. Mrs. Gardiner caught her eye and soon the pair was laughing so hard that tears ran from their eyes.

Miss Darcy continued to stand, shifting from one foot to the other and wringing her hands. “Should we… Do you think I should…?”

Madeleine held out a hand and guided the girl to sit beside her.

Patting her arm, Elizabeth’s aunt attempted to reassure her (although every time she caught Mrs. Reynolds’ eye, their laughter returned).

“Georgiana, Elizabeth grew up in the midst of five other women and she is accustomed to being very frank about such… feminine matters. Your brother is worried enough to consider sending for a doctor and she wishes to reassure him. Lizzy values the honesty they have between them too much to lie about what has affected her… so she has gone to reassure to him herself, as it is not the sort of message that should rightly be carried by servant.”

The last was spoken in an amused tone and punctuated by a “Thank heavens!” from Mrs. Reynolds.

As Georgiana continued to look worried, Mrs. Gardiner hugged the girl’s thin shoulders.

“Come, my dear. It isn’t strictly proper for them to discuss such things before the wedding but in a relationship such as theirs, I choose to be a bit flexible with the rules.

Should she attempt to hide it from him, it would cause more harm than good, I believe. ”

This last was said in a serious tone and Georgiana nodded to show she understood.

Suddenly Mrs. Gardiner caught her breath and stared at Pemberley’s housekeeper.

“He does know… well, at least the basics, doesn’t he, Susie?

” She had just recalled that Mr. Darcy had been motherless since a young age and did not give any appearance of maintaining such liaisons with females as many men of his station did.

Mrs. Reynolds smirked at her childhood friend and allowed herself a bit of the familiarity that they had shared as children.

“Relax, Miss Maddy. I cannot tell you of any practical experience, so to speak—my impression is that his wish to be as unlike George Wickham as possible had quite an impact on how he conducts his personal life—but he does know the fundamental facts, in theory, at least.” She nodded toward Mr. Darcy’s sister with a motherly look.

“He practically raised Miss Georgiana, after all.”

By that point, Miss Darcy’s face had flushed to such a brilliant scarlet that the two older women chose to take pity on her and change the subject.

Meanwhile, Mr. Darcy was somewhat flushed himself.

The longer he had gone without seeing Elizabeth, the more concerned he had become, fearing that such a long ride had truly injured her.

He had sat with Georgiana and Mr. Gardiner in the library for some time, ostensibly reading but really just turning pages and counting the minutes until Elizabeth’s aunt returned.

When time passed and that lady still did not appear, Darcy had finally lost patience and asked his sister to check on them.

Not long after, he decided to send Mrs. Reynolds to determine if a doctor was required and removed himself to his study where he might pace without being observed.

His self-recriminations had reached a fever pitch when Elizabeth herself tapped on the door and entered his sanctuary.

He froze in place by the window and stared at her with an anxiety that bordered on outright fear. “ Are you well?”

His obvious concern washed away Elizabeth’s irritation in an instant. She stepped forward and took his hand. “Yes, Fitzwilliam, I am perfectly well. Only a little tired.”

Before she could explain further, he engulfed her in a hug, holding her as if she were made of the most fragile porcelain. “I’m so sorry—I was thoughtless… I should never have taken you on such a long ride. Please forgive me…”

“Fitzwilliam… Will!” Elizabeth finally caught his attention. “You have nothing to apologize for—truly, my affliction has little to do with our morning’s activity. I enjoyed the ride very much and I hope to repeat it soon and often.”

He studied her carefully, wanting to be reassured but not at all convinced. “Are you certain? If you are feeling ill, should I not summon the doctor from Kympton?”

Elizabeth sighed and then, in a few terse sentences, she summarized her ailment and explained the likelihood of its monthly reoccurrence until she was in the family way or beyond childbearing age.

As she finished, Darcy sat down heavily in the nearest chair.

Lizzy seated herself in its twin and observed him, fighting the fear that so much honesty was not such a good idea.

“I thought… I could have said I had a headache but we had agreed that we wished to be honest with one another… perhaps this was too open? Too much information?”

Darcy was deeply embarrassed by the subject and his misunderstanding, but he managed to recognize that his fiancée needed some reassurance. “No. No, you have said just what you ought.”