Beginning, Section II, Next Section

Chapter 9. A Sir and His Lady Arrive.

t dinner that evening, Alexander took the opportunity of Kelsey's lively conversation with Elizabeth about Emma to gaze at his wife without reproach. She seemed happy enough, he supposed, but he could tell by the worry that still shadowed her eyes that she wasn't completely comfortable here.

I had hoped this would be easier on her. I should have known better.

Emma, he was pleased to note, was taking the adjustments much better than her mother. This was partially because she was allowed to sit at the table with her parents still, something that would never have been considered for Alexander or any of his brothers and sisters. Yet there was a laxness concerning Emma--his parents understood that this little girl was special, and that in order for her to fit into their world better, she would have to be humoured for a while.

Alexander planned never to let Emma spend one evening having dinner alone if he could avoid it.

As the dessert course was being brought into the dining hall, there came a ruckus from the hallway. At first, Alexander wasn't sure what was going on. He'd told his parents that the last thing he or Kelsey needed were snooping relatives and neighbors.

But as he looked at his parents' equally startled faces, he realized that they hadn't planned on having an visitors.

"Who the devil--"

The butler entered the dining room, prepared to announce the new guests. Before he could, a masculine voice called out,

"None of that, old chap! I can announce myself."

"Oh, Lord," Elizabeth breathed softly. "I had forgotten about them."

"Forgotten about whom?" Kelsey asked.

Alexander also recognized the voice. He didn't mind the person it belonged to--it was the person he brought along that concerned him.

"Darcy, my good man! It has been an age since we've seen you, or had the pleasure of your company in our part of the world. So good of you to invite us here," the gentleman said as he entered the room.

Darcy stood, smiling. "Hello, James," he said. The gentlemen shook hands vigorously.

"Who's that?" Emma whispered loudly. "He looks kinda like Gramps."

She had spoken just loud enough for the gentleman to hear her. He turned and started at the sight of a little girl at the large table, eating with the adults.

"Starting a new trend here, are we, Mr. Darcy?" a feminine voice called from the doorway. "I should not be surprised. You were always one to be different."

Kelsey then noticed the woman who had been standing just apart from her husband and his cousins. She was a tall woman, near Elizabeth's age, and just as lovely. Elizabeth would've been the handsomer of the two had illness not taken its toll in the spring. Even now, several months later, she didn't look completely healthy.

"Hello, Lady Hampton," Darcy said.

Lady Hampton? Kelsey scrambled to remember where she'd heard the name before. Alexander had mentioned that she was a relative, and that one of his sisters had married her son, but what else had he said...something about his parents not really liking her...

"Hello, Mr. Darcy...and dear Eliza."

"Caroline," Elizabeth replied politely with a nod of her head.

Of course! Caroline Bingley.

"Hello, Alexander," Sir James Hampton said cheerfully. "Who is this exquisite young lady beside you?"

"This is my wife, Kelsey."

"Not her. I figured that she was your wife. I meant this enchanting creature," Sir James said, approaching Emma and bending to one knee to meet her.

Kelsey smothered a laugh. Her daughter was delighted.

"My name is Emma Chandler...um, I mean, Emma Darcy. Who are you?"

"Emma Chandler or Emma Darcy? Can you not make up your mind?"

"Well, I used to be Emma Chandler and now I'm Emma Darcy. At least, that's what Mommy and Daddy said." Emma smiled. "Can I tell you a secret?"

"Yes, you may."

Emma leaned over and whispered in his ear, "I like Emma Darcy lots better."

Sir James' shoulders shook with mirth. "I think it sounds most grand," he replied. "Miss Emma Darcy, I am Sir James Hampton, your Grandfather Darcy's cousin."

"It's nice to meet you, Sir." Emma's face clouded over, and as Sir James made his greeting to Kelsey and then proceeded to speak to Elizabeth, she turned to Alexander and asked, "Why did his mommy and daddy name him Sir?"

Everyone laughed, except Emma, who was still puzzling over why anyone would name their child Sir.

"Emma, sweetheart, his first name isn't Sir, it's James," Kelsey said.

"But Mommy, he said--"

"The Sir means he's either been knighted or he's a...what? Viscount? Some minor nobility. It's a courtesy title. People call him Sir James."

"You mean like you call me Emma Caroline when you're mad?"

"No, dear." To Sir James, Kelsey turned and said, "She's six. Titles and names don't quite mean anything to her yet."

"Especially being an American," Sir James replied.

And from the twentieth century, Alexander thought. But of course, he does not know that.

"How shocking," Lady Hampton said. "Why, when I was a child, I--"

"My dear, I believe that you knew the proper forms of address from the cradle. Yet we cannot think every child has the knowledge you do," Sir James said with a slightly admonishing look at his wife.

Darcy and Elizabeth had considered the marriage of Sir James and Caroline Bingley as the mismatch of the century, and they still did. Without her husband at her side, Caroline still tended to be a tad insufferable, still a bit jealous after all this time that Elizabeth had married the man she'd originally loved, though Caroline was completely mad for her own husband. When the two were together, however, the change in the lady was most remarkable for the most part. It was clear that she idolized her husband and tried her best to make him happy.

And it was clear that she was equally adored by the gentleman, who had always been a favourite with the Darcys.

"Of course, my dear, you are quite right." Lady Hampton smiled at the child. "She is clearly a bright child, and I would be most happy to teach her what she would need to know."

"Emma Caroline is a lovely name," Sir James said, deciding not to respond to his wife's rather presumptive offer. "My wife's first name is Caroline."

"Really?" Emma's grey eyes brightened.

Uh-oh, Kelsey thought. The last thing I need is my child falling under the influence of Caroline Bingley.

"Indeed it is. You say your mother calls you Emma Caroline when she is upset?"

"Uh-huh."

"Is she often that way?"

"Oh, no! She don't get mad at me very often. Just when I do something bad, like the time I found Daddy here and we went home and she was scared that I was lost."

"Ah, I see. You know, when my mother had someone yell at me, it wouldn't be as easy as 'Emma Caroline.' They used to have to scream, 'James Arthur George Philip Darcy'. By the time they finished with the name, they forgot what they were upset about."

"Why'd they give you so many names?" she asked.

"Hmm...to make me sound important, I guess. The 'James' was for my grandfather Hampton, 'Arthur' for my father, 'George' for my mother's father, and 'Darcy' was her maiden name."

"You mean like my mama's name was Chandler?"

Lady Hampton's eyebrows rose substantially. She had heard that Kelsey's maiden name was Madison, and her former married name had been Chandler. But was that the truth...or something created by the Darcys so no one would know that dear little Emma was illegitimate?

"No, sweetheart," Kelsey said, dashing Caroline's thoughts of a scandal. "My maiden name was Madison, just like Aunt Maddie's, remember? Your...John's name was Chandler."

"John...hmph. I don't like John."

"Yes, well, I...didn't like him either," Kelsey caught herself at the last minute, noticing Lady Hampton's sharp eyes on them.

Kelsey had to remind herself that they were calling her an American widow, not a divorcee. If that little bit of news got around, she and Alexander would be finished in good Society. And poor Emma would never have a chance.

I might be stuck in this time, but I don't intend to let my daughter miss out on everything she can have.

Kelsey put a protective arm around her daughter, even though she should have had nothing to protect her from. Yet she couldn't shake the image of Caroline Hampton's eyes on them, morbidly curious and undoubtedly eager to strike a blow at Elizabeth's daughter-in-law...in spite of her husband.

Chapter 10. Emma And The Lady.

Posted by Annie on April 20, 1998

The following morning, Mr. Darcy took it upon himself to apologize to his daughter-in-law for the unexpected arrival of his cousins.

"I know you would have liked to have time to adjust, dear, but I cannot ask them to leave. They came to see Christopher and Jane and the grandchildren."

"They can't see them any other time?" Kelsey sighed, then realized that she probably sounded like a child. "I'm sorry. I'm being selfish and nervous...of course they want to see their family. It's just the idea of Caroline..."

Mr. Darcy chuckled. "I see that my Lizzy has taken it upon herself to warn you against the lady."

I didn't need her to do that. "Can you say that it wasn't necessary?"

"No, I cannot. Caroline can be...petty at times. Spiteful. She has greatly improved under the tutelage of my cousin from what she once was, but she still carries a grudge against Elizabeth for what she sees as her theft of me."

"Does she love this Sir James, or did she marry him on the rebound?"

"Marry him on the what?"

"It's a modern saying...it means that she married him to show to everyone that she could have any man she wanted, including your cousin."

Mr. Darcy's eyes darkened. "She married him because she loved him. I shall not have anyone say otherwise."

"I didn't mean to imply--" Kelsey felt herself blush. "I was just curious."

"Curiosity is not a truly ladylike trait," he said. "Sometimes, I feel it is best not to know."

Kelsey very slowly counted to ten before speaking, doing her very best not to unleash her temper. "Thank you for bothering to answer me," she said.

Mr. Darcy started at her cool reply, feeling as though he had offended her somehow. Perhaps saying that her curiosity on one simple point was unladylike was not necessary, but he cared for his cousin a great deal and any remark made that he had not married a woman who loved him--even when it was something he and Elizabeth had questioned often--infuriated him.

Still, he had to remind himself that Kelsey was a "modern" woman...only the modern part took place a hundred and fifty years in the future. "Forgive me if I seemed rude," he said. "I should not have been so brusque."

"I should thank you," Kelsey said, feeling that she had gained control over the anger inside. "Now I know what not to be asking when I appear in society. I'm not going to be humiliating Alexander in public."

"Kelsey..."

Kelsey left the room as quickly as her hoops and cramped shoes would allow, shoulders slumped and feeling dejected. Every day, it seemed, she made another mistake that had to be called to her attention.

I'm never going to get the hang of this lady business. Alexander's going to be disappointed in me.

Kelsey didn't notice Lady Hampton watching her as she returned to her room to be alone. The lady waited until the door had shut before making her way to the nursery.

Emma was not to be found in the nursery, but this did not surprise Caroline. The men of this family were odd that way, to allow children to romp about freely. She recalled her husband's laughter when she had feared Christopher would turn out positively wild.

"Oh, my darling Caroline, you must understand that children must be allowed to be children," he said.

"I realize that, James, but I do not want people to say that--"

"Christopher is the best-behaved child of that bunch of cronies of yours, far superior to your sister's ill-tempered brat. When he is about in society, he is a good boy. When he is at home, you must allow him freedom."

"Carleton is not a brat. He is simply...."

"Atrocious? Temperamental? Bad-mannered, to be sure. You have seen how your sister and brother-in-law handle him."

Caroline had sighed, acknowledging that her husband was right.

"Look at it this way, love...this is how I was raised, and look how I turned out." He had kissed her then, which had driven all rational thought from her mind.

"There are some things to be said in favour of it, I suppose," she said.

Lady Hampton smiled in memory, and thought of what a wonderful, charming adult her son was. She supposed that her James had been right after all.

Still, memories were not on her mind as she went in search of Miss Emma. One of the maids informed her that Miss Emma was in the library with some books. When Lady Hampton asked what books, the maid looked a bit embarrasssed as she replied, "Most peculiar ones, ma'am. Mostly pictures and all, with some of the strangest-looking characters I have ever seen."

Lady Hampton frowned and thanked the servant, then continued walking down the halls. It was then that the memories began to assail her, memories of the few days she had spent there nearly thirty-five years earlier, when her hopes of winning the heart of Fitzwilliam Darcy had been dimming and had finally been vanquished forever.

It never failed upon wandering through Pemberley. She would always recall her long-ago dreams of becoming its mistress, and the memory of those miserable days would always cause her to flush in shame as she recalled everything she had done and considered to make her dreams reality. Caroline stopped in front of the music room and entered hesitantly, looking first upon the couch Mr. Darcy had been sitting in when he had watched Elizabeth Bennet play the fortepiano, then at the instrument itself. She gazed upon the fireplace where Mr. Darcy had stood when he had killed all her hopes, saying that he considered Elizabeth the handsomest woman he knew.

Why is it that I cannot come to Pemberley without recalling what was never meant to be? I am blissfully happy with my husband, and yet I still think of Pemberley, and Mr. Darcy, with regret. Perhaps it is the loss of a young girl's dream I mourn, and nothing more.

"Wow! This is neat!" a small voice exclaimed from the doorway. Lady Hampton turned to see Miss Emma walking into the room. "A piano."

"Hello, Miss Darcy," Lady Hampton said.

"Hello, lady," Emma replied.

"You may call me Caroline if you wish." Caroline smiled warmly.

"Okay. You can call me Emma."

"All right, Emma. Do you play the piano at all?"

"Nope. We didn't have one at our house. Mommy always talked of getting one, because she wanted me to learn how to play, but Da--John said that he hated music, especially pianos."

"John?"

"My ex-daddy."

Lady Hampton was shocked at the blase attitude of this child toward her late father. It was most unnatural, especially when she recalled how much she had loved her own father.

"Ex-daddy?" Lady Hampton repeated. "Emma, you should speak of the dead with greater respect than that."

"But I don't like him. He's a dweeb."

Dweeb? Caroline was too confused by Emma's slur to realize that she had spoken of the man in the present tense. In fact, had Emma not continued, she wouldn't have caught it at all.

"And he's not dead. He and Mommy are divorced."

Lady Hampton had to use all her control not to gasp aloud at that news. "They are?" she asked.

"Uh-huh. Mommy said it was because John liked other women when he was supposed to only like her." Emma shrugged. "I don't care. I like Daddy lots better anyway."

"Daddy?" Caroline realized that the child was referring to Alexander as her father.

"Yeah. He reads me bedtime stories and does all the voices. He likes to play Nintendo with me, and he loves Beauty and the Beast. I love him."

Caroline was still grasping the scandalous revelation that Alexander Darcy, the son of one of the most illustrious personages in England, had married a divorced woman. She suddenly smiled, a brittle smile that made Emma a bit nervous.

"Don't you like my daddy?" she asked, her little voice quaking.

Caroline looked down at the small girl, her smile fading. "Of course I like your father, Emma. He's a relative."

"But John's a relative and I don't like him."

Caroline did not have an answer for that. She had been able to discern what Emma had been told about her mother's divorce, but she could not understand how it had been allowed. Or how the Darcys would have allowed their son to marry such a woman.

"I don't think Grandma likes you," Emma said. "I don't think Gramps does, either."

"You shouldn't say such things, Miss Emma. They are rude and unladylike," Caroline said.

"Why don't they like you?"

Lady Hampton had a good mind to send the child to the nursery to be reprimanded by her nurse, but she knew that she was not the child's mother--and that quite likely, such an action would cause the entire family to become furious with her, including her husband.

"Curiosity is not a ladylike trait," Caroline said.

Emma, in a remarkable resemblance to her mother only a short time earlier, bowed her head and appeared chastised. Caroline sighed. Somehow, the little girl made her feel guilty for her harshness.

"Emma, the reason your grandparents and I are not the best of friends happened a long time ago. In fact, we generally do get on quite well, but nothing can truly erase what was." She sat on the sofa and motioned for Emma to join her. "There are times in our lives when we want something desperately. I am certain you know what I mean."

"You mean like when I wanted a daddy and Mommy said that Alexander couldn't come back?"

Caroline nodded. "Precisely. Once upon a time, I had great hopes of marrying your grandfather Darcy."

Emma crinkled her nose. "Gramps? Why would you wanna do that when he's with Grandma?"

"This was before he married Elizabeth, dear."

"Oh."

"I believed that I could convince him that he loved me as much as I...thought I loved him. Then your grandmother entered his life, and she bewitched him in such a way...as to prevent him ever loving anyone else."

"You mean like Mommy and Daddy?"

Caroline smiled. "Yes, just like your mother and Alexander. I was extremely jealous of her, and so I would often say unflattering things about her when your grandfather was close enough to hear. I did not like her at all."

"Why?"

"Because he was in love with her, and it was clear that she cared not at all for him. I did many things to try to dissuade him from his choice...and considered some things which were far worse. In the end, he married her...and I realized that I was in love with someone else."

"You were?"

"Yes. I loved Sir James all along, only I refused to see it because...of my own foolishness, which is a story for another time, perhaps. The problem however, was that I had said all those terrible things about Elizabeth, and had acted in such an imprudent manner towards Mr. Darcy...and in such a way as to lose their friendship forever. We can be friendly and polite to each other, but we shall never be close."

"Oh. That's sad. Maybe if you said you were sorry they'd forgive you."

Caroline chuckled. "I think my actions require more than an apology to erase, Emma."

"Do you wanna be friends with them?"

Caroline considered the question. "I...well, my dear, it is not as simple as it would seem. You see, I have hoped in the past...and even thought that the marriage of our children would cement something...but I have always thought that they looked upon my friendship as nothing more than..." Caroline trailed off as she thought about the problem. Had she ever truly ever considered extending friendship to them? Or had she always assumed that it should be extended to her?

"Than what?"

"Never mind." Caroline glanced at the fortepiano. "Would you like for me to give you a lesson on that?"

"Do you know how to play?"

"Absolutely, and quite well."

"Cool." Emma leaped off the couch and over to the piano, eager to begin.

Caroline smiled as she joined her.

The two were found in the music room forty minutes later, Emma pounding tunelessly but with such enthusiasm that Caroline did not have the heart to stop her. Kelsey had begun to fear when she hadn't been able to find her daughter, recalling a time not long ago when Emma had disappeared and returned with Alexander. But when a maid mentioned that she had seen the child with Lady Hampton in the music room, Kelsey's fear was replaced with dread at what Caroline Bingley might want with her daughter.

She stopped at the entrance, watching her daughter laughing along with Lady Hampton as Emma announced, "That's the end!"

Caroline applauded, saying, "I predict that you shall be a true talent at the piano, my dear."

"Thank you, thank you."

Kelsey couldn't contain her own laughter at Emma bowing to an imaginary audience. Emma looked up to see her mother, calling, "Mommy! Did you hear me? I was playing the piano and Caroline says that I'm good."

"Oh, she does?"

"Uh-huh. She says that I might need some more practice, though."

"Yes, you probably should practice more."

"You want to hear what she teached me?"

"Taught, Emma."

"That's what I said, Mommy. You wanna hear?"

"Sure."

Emma retreated to the piano, where she very hesitantly played one scale. When she was finished, Kelsey applauded. "That was excellent, sweetheart."

"Caroline said she'd give me another lesson tomorrow."

"Did you remember to thank her for it?"

"Um..." Emma turned to the lady. "Thank you, Caroline."

"You are certainly welcome, Emma. Could I perhaps ask you for a favor?"

"What?"

"Would you mind if I spoke with your mother--alone?"

Emma nodded, then asked, "Where is Daddy?"

"I think he's with Sir James and your grandfather in the library."

Caroline did not miss the tightening in Kelsey's voice when she said "grandfather," and wondered what had happened to upset the woman.

Emma scurried out of the room to find her father.

"It amazes me that she finds her way anywhere in this house," Kelsey said. "I still have difficulty remembering where everything is."

"Pemberley is rather imposing," Caroline agreed. "I rather admire your little Emma, for she seems not to fear it at all."

"I raised her that way. I didn't want her to be afraid of anything."

Caroline nodded. "Mrs. Darcy, I feel the need to warn you of something that concerns yourself and Emma."

Kelsey frowned. "What would that be?"

"You may wish to tell Emma not to be repeating to anyone else that her father is still alive."

Kelsey suddenly felt extremely light-headed, and the last thing she could think of before losing consciousness was that Caroline Bingley had discovered her secret...and not even God could help her now.

Chapter 11. And Then There Were Four

Posted by Annie on May 23, 1998

When Kelsey awoke, she found that she was in her room, laying on the bed. Alexander was leaning over her bed, a concerned expression on his face. Kelsey couldn't quite understand what had happened or how she'd gotten there, but an instant later, she remembered exactly what Caroline had said before she'd fainted and she gasped.

She knows. Dear God, Caroline Bingley knows and she's going to tell everyone that I'm divorced.

"Kelsey, what is the matter?" Alexander asked. "Mr. Jones, she is awake."

A second man was now bending over to see her. "Mrs. Darcy?"

Kelsey groaned softly. It was not physical pain which caused the sound, but emotional heartache.

"Alexander, if I may have a moment alone with her, I think it would be best."

Alexander frowned and looked at Kelsey. "I feel it would be best if I stayed," he said.

Mr. Jones looked from the determined Alexander to Kelsey, who lay silently on the bed. With a sigh, he said, "Mrs. Darcy, I must ask what happened just prior to your fainting spell?"

Kelsey sighed. "I--I don't know," she replied. "I went to the music room to find Emma."

"I meant how you were feeling."

"Oh."

Alexander frowned. Did her illness have anything to do with Emma?

"I was fine. I didn't feel sick or anything...and then I got woozy and...that's when everything went blank." Kelsey sighed. "I wish I could tell you more than that."

"I see. Do you have a history of fainting spells?"

"No, not at all."

"Light-headedness?"

"No, except when I was carrying Emma. But that was only once in a while, when I was very tired or very upset."

Mr. Jones' eyes lit up. "Mrs. Darcy, I realize this might be a somewhat personal question, but when was your last monthly?"

"Monthly..." Monthly what? Kelsey wondered, when suddenly it hit her what the doctor meant. "Oh." She then had to think back. It was early December now, which meant she should've already...Kelsey began counting, and slowly it dawned on her that she should've seen it coming. "Not since October."

"I see." He smiled. "And are they regular?"

"Yes, of course." She'd had to go on the Pill to regulate them, but she remembered making the decision after she'd married Alexander that she wanted to have a baby with him, so she'd stopped taking them.

She just didn't mention it to him, not that he'd ever known what the Pill was to begin with.

"Have you had any other symptoms that you have noticed that would be similar to those you experienced with your daughter?"

"I don't get sick. I never did. But...I sleep late," she said, remembering that she'd been sleeping heavily and often since she'd arrived at Pemberley. "But I thought it was all due to the stress I've been under lately."

"I would say it is quite likely that you are with child," Mr. Jones told her, appearing efficient. "I do need to conduct a small examination, which should not be too embarrassing or painful, to be certain."

Kelsey thought of what it might be like compared to the gynecologists of the modern day, and didn't think it would be so bad. "Don't worry," she said. "I understand that it's just your job."

"Alexander, if you would not mind, I think perhaps it would be best if you left now." Mr. Jones turned to him.

"Oh, yes. Excuse me."

Alexander withdrew from the bed, thinking of his fears for Kelsey in this strange time and place. Her words about Emma's birth came back to him. What if something were to go wrong away from modern medicine? What if she were to die, or fall ill as my grandmother did?

But something more wondrous overcame him. It was the idea of truly becoming a father.

A father. A child of his own. Not that it would mean he would love Emma any less because she was not his actual daughter, for he felt her to be his as much as she felt he was her true father. But this child...if there was one...would be his, his and Kelsey's, and no one could ever take that away from them.

A child. His beautiful, wonderful wife was going to have his child. Alexander could hardly contain his excitement at the idea of Kelsey glowing and round as she expected his son or daughter. He would not care which they had, as long as Kelsey did not experience much difficulty during the birth.

Alexander, dazed, wandered downstairs to wait for the doctor's pronouncement of his wife's condition. At the foot of the stairs waited Lady Hampton, her hands clasped tensely in front of her.

"Alexander! How is she?" Caroline asked anxiously.

Alexander frowned. He recalled his horror at the woman crying for the servants to come assist Kelsey, knowing in his heart that she had done something to antagonize his wife. He himself had carried her up to their bedroom, shouting for a doctor to be sent for immediately.

"She is doing fine," he replied calmly, not betraying his feelings to her.

"Good." Caroline was visibly relieved. "Oh, Alexander, I feel so guilty for scaring her."

Alexander's face grew tense and angry. "What did you do?" he asked. Upset though he was, he couldn't help but be surprised that Lady Hampton was confessing she'd had anything to do with it at all.

"I...I do not think we should speak where we could be easily heard," she said. "Come to the library and I shall tell you all."

Alexander followed her, shutting the door behind them. Caroline sat in a chair, telling him that she had spoken to Emma and discovered that Kelsey was not widowed but divorced.

Alexander felt a chill ripple through him, understanding now what had caused Kelsey's fainting spell. He could only imagine what had gone through her mind when she realized the power Emma had inadvertently handed the woman.

Caroline looked at Alexander, knowing he didn't trust her. She couldn't blame him. With a sigh, she said, "I only wanted to warn her to tell Emma not to reveal that to anyone else. I didn't mean to frighten her."

"You should not have said anything at all."

"But what if Emma were to tell a friend of hers, or someone else? Everyone would know, and the last thing I want to do is to hurt an innocent child." She smiled. "Especially one as precocious as Emma. I wish I had had a daughter like her."

Alexander, having once heard a story from his cousin Beth about Lady Hampton's own difficulty bearing children, leaned back in his chair. It seemed as though everything around him were telling him to fear for this possible new life within Kelsey even as he rejoiced at the idea of becoming a father.

"Please, Alexander, you must tell her that I did not want to seem threatening. I know what your mother must have told her about me."

"Quite likely."

"But if there is one thing even Eliza must know, it is that I would never hurt family in such a way. I would never bring such shame on her family...after all, it is my family as well."

Alexander smiled wryly. "And the fact that your son is married to my sister is another factor, is it not?"

"As I said, our families are one and the same." Caroline artfully danced around that question, and he had to admire her skill at it.

"Is she going to be all right?" she asked.

Alexander hesitated to announce the possibilty of Kelsey's pregnancy. Instead, he said, "The doctor believes so."

"Good. Then please, tell her that I shall never say anything about her first husband...just tell her to instruct Emma to do the same."

"I shall take it upon myself to warn Emma," Alexander said. "Though I suspect that within a few years she shall not remember John at all."

"Was John a dreadful man?"

Alexander's eyes darkened, and he nodded. "Worse than my Uncle Wickham," he said.

Caroline, who still did not know all that had transpired to cause the ill will between the Wickhams and the Darcys, could only imagine the worst.

Which was quite close to being correct.

Mr. Jones was then ushered into the room, wearing a bright smile. "You may see her now, Alexander. I suspect that it shall be here sometime at the end of July or early August."

Alexander's frown disappeared as his greatest hope--and greatest fear--was confirmed. Excusing himself, he practically ran out of the room and up the stairs, leaving behind an amused doctor and a baffled Lady Hampton.

Walking into their bedroom, Alexander approached the bed cautiously, uncertain as to how Kelsey was feeling about the situation. She turned to look at her, and never in his life had he seen her looking quite as beautiful as she had in that moment, except on the day he married her.

"Are you all right?" he asked.

She nodded. "Everything's fine." She extended her arms to him, which he fell into with joy. "Oh, Alexander! I was hoping this would happen."

"You did?"

"Yes, of course. I wanted to have your baby so much. This is going to be a part of you and me, part of our love together."

He smiled. "But I was--I am scared for you. Suppose something happens as happened with Emma?"

Kelsey thought for a moment. "Oh, yes. I guess it would be worse here, without drugs. Maybe I could sneak back to the present to see a obstetrician there."

"That is far too dangerous," he said. "What if John were to discover you?"

"I would be willing to take the risk to insure my child's safety," Kelsey replied. "Wouldn't you?"

"Well, I--"

"And if he should discover my presence, he would still have only a small window of opportunity to serve me with a court summons. The risk would be small."

"Yes, I guess--"

"And if I absolutely have to, I can make appointments under Maddie's name."

Alexander smiled. "You think of everything, do you?"

"I try my best, love. And it helps to have an identical twin who also happens to be pregnant."

Alexander hugged her. "I love you."

"I love you, too."

He sighed. "When should we tell everyone?"

"I think the first person we should tell is Emma, but if we do that, she'll tell everyone before we have a chance to."

"Speaking of Emma, and this fainting spell...."

Kelsey's hand protectively rested on her still-flat stomach. "Yes, I wish we'd told her not to say anything about John. Especially to Caroline."

"I know you do not trust the woman."

"With good reason."

"Yes, but that is not at issue right now. But I spoke to her."

"And?"

"She has reassured me that she does not wish to make this public. She has said she would not wish harm to come to Emma."

"That is sweet of her to say, but--"

"I think she means it. As we are related by marriage, I do not think she would wish harm to come to this family and thus to her own son. You are safe from harm as far as Lady Hampton is concerned...and she wishes to apologize for scaring you."

"I guess I'll have to rely on her word to you for now. But Alexander..." Kelsey sighed. "I get so scared sometimes about doing the wrong thing. Today, your father and I had a disagreement and he...he reprimanded me. And you know how I am about being told what to do."

Alexander grinned. "Yes, dear, I believe I do. Your mother has told me on countless occasions."

Kelsey rolled her eyes and tried not to think about what her mother would've said. "I don't want to be an embarrassment to you in front of Society. If we end up having to spend the rest of our lives here..."

"You shall never be an embarrassment to me, Kelsey Darcy. Never."

"Thank you for saying that."

"I meant it. You are the most amazing woman I have ever met. You're generous and kind and loving and supportive and...beautiful. And you're also carrying my first child. There is nothing you could do to embarrass me."

"You might be surprised," Kelsey murmured.

"Dear, if you think negatively, you are likely to do something wrong. Think of good things. Think of being a success should we ever go to London. Think of Emma. Think of the baby." He smiled. "Think of Sandoval."

"Sandoval? What's that?"

"It is the place I am thinking of buying, should your father come through with some more jewelry for us."

"Are you having much success selling what we have so far?"

"My father's men are travelling the world in order to dispose of it. Were we to try and sell it all in London, there would be far too much talk and we would not receive good prices for our goods. America, however, is likely to be a veritable...what was the modern phrase? A 'gold mine'?"

"Yes," Kelsey said. "That money won't be coming for months, though. How are we to afford--"

"At the moment, Sandoval is merely for let, but the former owners of the place are considering an outright sale should circumstances not improve for them. We are currently in negotiations. My father has agreed to a loan until we are upon solid ground financially."

Kelsey smiled. "I really should not be so upset with your father. Our argument today was over something inconsequential."

"I am certain once we inform them of our news, he shall understand. My mother was prone to fits of temper while with child."

"Isn't that typical. Blame a woman's changing hormones for her moods."

"Is that not what you do every month?"

"Alexander!" Kelsey reached for a pillow and tossed it at him. He caught it easily and laughed. She sighed. "I am so nervous about telling Emma."

"Why?"

"Because she's already had the burden of my mother's relegating her to second place for Maddie's baby. What if she thinks that'll happen again because we're having a child of our own?"

Alexander put his arms around her. "Emma is a resiliant child. She shall undoubtedly consider a brother or sister as a wonderful event--a new playmate."

"I hope you're right. I really do."

Chapter 12. The Big News

Emma, as Alexander expected, took the news of her impending big-sisterhood quite well. She had been hopping all over the place, asking when it would be here, when she'd get to play with it, whether it would be a brother or sister. When told that they weren't quite sure what it would be, she was a bit disappointed, but Kelsey explained that it had been quite a while before they'd known whether or not Emma would be a little girl, so it wasn't so bad.

Emma, who wasn't quite sure why it would take so long to know what a baby would be, simply shrugged it off.

But as Kelsey and Alexander had expected, she repeated her big news to everyone at Pemberley from the housekeeper to Sir James, who chuckled upon hearing that the only thing troubling the younger Mrs. Darcy was pregnancy and not his wife as he'd heard and suspected.

Kelsey and Alexander officially announced the event at dinner, and everyone pretended as though Emma had not told them beforehand. As the family sat down to enjoy their meal, the butler abruptly arrived and announced, "There is a gentleman here who insists on seeing the family. He says he is Mrs. Darcy's father."

Elizabeth was momentarily confused, her father having been dead for many years. But then she looked at Kelsey and smiled. "I see the maze has been open today," she said. "'Tis your father he speaks of."

"Dad?" Kelsey rose from her seat and left the dining room. "Where is he? Don't tell me you left him outside to freeze!"

"I didn't," the butler said with a frown as he led her into the foyer, where Joshua Madison stood expectantly.

"Dad!" she cried, running into his arms. "How have you been?"

"I'm all right. How are you? How's Emma? I brought her a Christmas present--I hope she likes it."

"I'm sure she will. What are you doing here?"

"I suspected that maze of yours would be open today, and so it was, so I came through."

"Why? What happened today?" Kelsey asked.

"Would it be possible for us to find a place to sit?" Joshua asked.

"Yes, of course. Have you had anything to eat?"

"Yeah, I grabbed a bit to eat before coming through."

Kelsey took the present for Emma, but was a bit disappointed that he had brought nothing for her and Alexander--he'd promised to bring jewelry.

Maybe he didn't get a chance to do anything. It's only been a couple of weeks.

She led him to the library, deciding that he could meet the Hamptons later. Sitting him down, she said, "Tell me everything that's happened."

He sighed. "John was furious, of course, that you and Alexander disappeared with Emma. He wanted to have arrest warrants drawn up stating that the two of you were in contempt of court, but he couldn't very well do that since you hadn't been served with papers."

"No law against ducking a subpoena, I take it."

"None whatsoever. And as your lawyer, I can't be compelled to reveal where you've gone...not that anyone would believe me if I did."

Kelsey smiled. "There are times when I can't quite believe it myself, and I'm married and living here."

"How are you and Emma adjusting?"

"As well as could be expected--Emma better than myself. How are Maddie and Mother?"

"Maddie's been better--being pregnant doesn't agree with her. She's been sick most mornings, according to Ben. And of course, your mother fusses over her every day...but I think she's a bit frustrated at times."

"Mother, frustrated with Maddie? I refuse to believe it."

"As for your mother, she's upset with the two of you for 'running away' as she puts it."

"Of course she is. I never do anything right in her eyes."

"I think she misses you."

"Misses her scapegoat, more like it."

"Yes, well, that's not why I'm here." Joshua smiled. "You see, although John was upset at first with you, he's since been...otherwise occupied."

"By what?" Kelsey asked.

"I took a look through some of his deals and finances, and what I found...well, doesn't look good."

"What is it?"

"Insider trading. I've got him by the short hairs, my dear, and--"

"I don't want a custody battle. That would put Emma in the middle."

"Of course not. You didn't think I was going to keep this to myself simply for use in a custody fight, did you?" He smiled. "I tipped the authorities to him, and he's now under investigation. And from what I hear, he's likely to be indicted early in the new year."

"Indicted?" she repeated numbly. "Meaning..."

"He'll likely draw a jail sentence. Of course, I wouldn't recommend you coming home until he's definitely been convicted, but...then again, you may want to return soon, when you can still claim you simply went on vacation and have returned. But I leave all that up to you."

"Oh..." Home. Kelsey remembered all the wonderful modern things of her time, all the things she dreamed of returning to every day.

And then she thought of Alexander, and how hard he'd worked to build them a life here in his time, and how happy he was here. Not that he wasn't happy in his time, but...

"Is something wrong?"

"I don't know. I'll tell Alexander, of course...but I don't think we'll be returning until after the holidays. You see, Alexander has some relatives here who wouldn't quite understand what would happen if we were to suddenly disappear."

"Oh...you mean relatives who don't know about..."

"Exactly. His cousin, Sir James, and Lady Caroline Hampton." Kelsey recalled the woman's look of relief when they'd announced Kelsey's pregnancy. "So we'll stay for now."

"Of course."

"I think Emma will be disappointed, though...she won't be Emma Darcy if we go back, and she was so happy to be called that."

"Yes."

"And it is sort of nice, to have servants to take care of you and cook and clean."

"But at the same time, there's no television or modern necessities."

"Yes." Kelsey put her hand on her stomach, thinking of the coming baby. Kelsey had given it some thought since the doctor had confirmed her pregnancy, and the idea of giving birth away from modern medicine frightened her.

"Is there something else?" Joshua asked.

"Oh, nothing...I guess I should tell you my news, though. I'm having a baby."

Her father hugged her firmly and congratulated her. "But Kelsey, this is all the more reason to come home. You and your baby need the attention of a modern doctor."

"I know," Kelsey said. "After Christmas."

"All right."

"Are you going to stay for dinner?" she asked.

"No, I have to return, but the moment I hear anything more, I'll return. Count on it."

Kelsey gave her father a hug and a kiss and showed him out.

"Why didn't your father stay?" Mr. Darcy asked politely, remembering the blunt man from the wedding.

"Because he had to return. I don't think he's taking any chances of having to remain here when he's of better use to us back home," she replied. "It was good to see him, though."

That night, as Alexander and Kelsey lay in bed, she told him everything her father had told her.

"Then we shall return home," Alexander murmured, sounding disappointed.

"If you want to," she said. "We can always stay here...I guess."

But she sounded no more enthusiastic about staying as he was about leaving. Kelsey didn't want this to come between them, but she knew Alexander's concerns--they were her own. Things were nice here, but they were also nice at home.

And safer at home.

And...

With a sigh, she tried to fall asleep. It wasn't going to be easy to choose between the two worlds.

Chapter 13

Not part of the story: This chapter is going to contradict what I wrote in "Maybe This Time." When I came up with the idea for "Suffering Fools," and then decided to include Alexander, I realized that I'd goofed. In MTT, Edward Darcy inherited Rosings due to a lack of male heir from Anne de Bourgh, and Mr. Collins had a son. But in SF, I changed all that around. (Some historian I make.) So the history here is going to continue from SF. Sorry!

Chapter 13. The family arrives.

Family get-togethers were not Kelsey's best thing, and it was only natural, Alexander figured, given her family. But he knew she would adore his family once she got to know all of them.

When Alexander had mentioned that his family would be arriving for Christmas, Kelsey had been expecting his brothers and sisters with their respective spouses, a fairly large group in and of themselves, but nothing she could not handle. Indeed, she was eager to become better acquainted with them.

And so they came. The first couple to arrive was Alexander's second brother, Edward, and his wife Victoria. Accompanied by three rather boisterous children, to Emma's delight. They were followed a mere day later by the elder of his sisters, Jane, and her husband Sir Christopher Hampton, also accompanied by children, only slightly better behaved.

Kelsey was astounded at the change the latter pair made on Lady Hampton. Caroline, upon hearing that her son was soon to arrive, had leapt abruptly from tea to rush outside and see her son and daughter-in-law.

Elizabeth, Victoria, and Kelsey all exchanged glances. "She does not see them often," Elizabeth explained to Kelsey with a smile as she, too, rose. "Jane and Christopher spend most of their time in the country, while Caroline and Sir James tend to roam at will and stay the Season in London."

"She has not seen the new baby, has she?" Victoria asked.

"No, she hasn't. Baby Caroline was only recently old enough to travel."

Elizabeth went to see her daughter, leaving Victoria and Kelsey alone.

"I wanted to tell you that you made a lovely bride," Victoria said, taking a sip of tea. "We did not have the opportunity to do so after your wedding."

"I'm sorry about that. It's just that...well..."

"Modern weddings tend to be a bit hectic?"

Kelsey smiled. "Exactly. But I wouldn't have had it any other way. It wasn't nearly as grandiose as my sister's wedding. She had the whole...deal. And she managed to do it in a hoop skirt."

"I take it that our fashions are something you would prefer not to deal with."

"Yes." Kelsey looked at her outfit with a sigh. Then she looked at her companion. "I know so little about Alexander's family, where they live and what they do."

"What do you wish to know? My husband and I live at Longbourn with our children."

"Longbourn?"

"Yes. I was Victoria Collins before I married Edward."

Oh, that's right. Alexander mentioned that.

"How many sisters do you have?"

"Four. My sister Isabel...well, she finally married about a year ago to a gentleman named Mr. Hollis. No one hears from her, but none of us had heard from her before because she...well, she had a great deal of resentment for all of us because she was the eldest and yet she married last."

"I'm sorry to hear that."

"I was never close to her. My sister Caroline is married to Mr. George de Bourgh, the master of Rosings. My family is going there next year to celebrate the holidays."

"Including Isabel?"

Victoria smiled. "Perhaps not all my family. My sisters Elizabeth and Julia live in America. Elizabeth is married to Mr. Anthony Ashton, while Julia is married to his best friend, Mr. Robert Connor. They are identical twins...just like yourself."

Kelsey smiled. "They are?"

"Yes. When Elizabeth heard that Alexander had married, she laughed for twenty minutes. She was closest to him, and was most disappointed to discover that his journey took him into the future."

"Why did she laugh?"

"Well...it has to do with a description Alexander was given by a clairvoyant years ago of the woman he would marry. Something about 'eyes of smoke and hair of honey.'"

Kelsey was taken a bit aback at the description, but she laughed just the same.

Lady Hampton and Elizabeth entered the room a minute later, Jane and Sir Christopher in tow. Lady Hampton was holding the baby in her arms, smiling. "She's so beautiful," Caroline cooed. "Yes, she is. Just like her father."

"Her mother," Sir Christopher corrected. "Hello, Victoria, Kelsey."

Victoria nodded to him.

"Who else is around?" he asked. "I was expecting us to be the last to arrive, as late as my ladies make me."

"Caroline, Elizabeth, Christiana and I were ready. It was you who needed a bit of prodding, dear," Jane replied.

Sir Christopher smiled, not the least bit embarrassed at being caught out. His smile was identical to his father's, and Kelsey found herself liking him immediately.

"So it would seem. I hope you and Papa appreciate the gift we brought, Mama," Sir Christopher said with a smile.

It seems impossible to imagine Caroline Bingley as being anyone's 'Mama,' Kelsey thought.

"If you and Jane brought it, I am certain we shall." Lady Hampton once again took her seat.

"Where are Papa and Sir James?" Jane asked.

"I believe they are out looking at some estate with Alexander," Elizabeth said with a sly look at Kelsey. Her son had informed her of the difficulties Kelsey's ex-husband had landed himself in, and of the fact that they could now return home at their leisure.

And he had told her that deep in his heart, he did not want to leave. He wanted to use this holiday season to convince his wife that the best place for them would be here in his world.

"I wish I could state reality, Mama, but I cannot. Not without crushing Kelsey's feelings. But here Emma can remain Emma Darcy, and Kelsey will never have to fear John. And here there are people who love her greatly, whereas in her time...in her time, there is her mother, who believes her to be a...a screw-up, who rejects Emma in favor of her sister's unborn child."

"But there are her father and sister. She loves them as much as you love us."

"I know. I just wish..."

"You wish what?"

"I wish my world could include the modern conveniences of hers."

"You cannot have it both ways, my son. You must choose one or the other. You can choose to leave us behind and return to her time and her conveniences and relative safety for your unborn child...or you can stay here where there are people who love you and need you and take a chance that something might go wrong."

"Put that way, Mama, there is no decision to be made at all. We should return to the future."

Elizabeth had seen the misery on her son's face. He was going to leave the final decision to Kelsey, she knew, once they had the final word that John would no longer bother them should they return.

Kelsey sighed. She was having as difficult a time deciding whether or not they should stay.

And what startled her was that she wanted to stay. In spite of everything.

But she kept her feelings to herself for the time being. No need to ruin the holiday for everyone else.

The Hamptons were followed three days later by Alexander's eldest brother, William, his wife Augusta, and their two children, who were the best-behaved of the lot. The next morning brought the last of the Darcys in the form of Victoria and John Knightley, fresh from a visit from his family at Donwell Abbey.

When the entire family first assembled for dinner, Kelsey feared she would lose track of the number of people present. Her family was relatively small, and the sheer number of people Pemberley could hold astonished her. "Amazing, are they not?" Alexander asked as he put a comforting hand in Kelsey's.

"Yes." Kelsey smiled hesitantly. "And numerous."

"And all similarly named," Alexander added with a chuckle. "Emma was delighted when she discovered little Emma Knightley. I believe the two shall be lifelong friends, regardless of where they shall be in the future."

"Yes. Two Emmas, two Carolines, three Elizabeths..."

"And only one Kelsey," Alexander murmured in her ear.

"I suppose I should want something more traditional, such as Madeline?"

"No," he said. "Your name is perfect. You are perfect, my love."

"I'm far from perfect, Alexander."

Alexander wished he could kiss her, but such a public display was unheard of in this time.

That was something he did miss about her time, the easy way they had with each other. Emma was in school for most of the day, and hardly anyone came by to disturb them, and they were freed to do what they wished. Here there were servants everywhere...and now family members enough to last any one twentieth-century person two lifetimes.

He had gone to see the place he had thought of letting with his father and Sir James, but his heart had not been in it. He realized that his enthusiasm for staying, although still very strong, was beginning to fade.

The questions which had plagued him upon their decision to come here returned even stronger since Kelsey was pregnant. Once John was indicted, they would return home.

But he did not let his feelings show, since he did not wish to ruin everyone else's holiday. His family would be disappointed, naturally, but perhaps he could arrange for them to spend their summers at Pemberley, when Emma was out of school. She would look upon it as a vacation until she was old enough to understand the truth.

He looked over his family, wondering if this would be the last time he saw them for at least a year. Kelsey would be close to her confinement by summer, and thus he would not move her for the world.

But perhaps something could be worked out. He was certain of that.

It would really be for the best.

Continued In Next Section