Chapter 25
For the Darcys, it felt as though the months had flown by. The love both had thought could not deepen had done so every day.
After the Bingleys took up residence at Longfield Meadows in September, at least once a week either the Darcys visited the Bingleys at their estate, or the Bingleys visited the Darcys at Pemberley.
Letters flew back and forth between Derbyshire and Hertfordshire keeping the Bennet, Bingley, Fitzwilliam, and Darcy couriers very busy. Even Tom and James wrote letters occasionally.
A month after moving into the Meadows, Jane shared her suspicion with all her sisters at Pemberley that she was with child, and a week later Mary Fitzwilliam had shared she suspected herself and Richard were soon to be parents as well.
The morning of the twentieth of December as Mr. and Mrs. Darcy were taking a walk around the lake; Darcy marvelled at how soon in her pregnancy his Lizzy was visibly larger.
With no prior warning, his wife stopped walking and grabbed his arm while her other hand covered her swelling belly, which immediately caused Darcy much alarm.
“Lizzy are you well? Is there a problem with our baby? Should I summon help?” he asked, bending so he was able to see her face clearly to determine if she was in pain or scared.
“William, calm yourself.” Elizabeth captured his face in her hands to soothe him. “Look at me. Do I look like I am in pain?” she asked gently, caressing his cheeks with her thumbs as she waited for him to calm.
“I am sorry.” He hung his head.
“Sorry for loving me as you do? I will pretend I did not hear that and demand you strike the thought from your memories, so it is never said again,” she countered, the teasing intentionally making him laugh.
“Then I am not sorry for panicking like a boy of twelve who could not catch his breath after falling out of a tree, certain he was about to meet his maker and would get a thrashing for dying so young when he got home,” he chuckled, causing his Lizzy to loose one of her tinkling laughs he loved to hear.
“What tree?” she grinned up at him and he pointed to the one only ten paces away.
“Are you well, my love?” he asked huskily, searching her eyes.
“I apologise if I gave you cause for concern. No, William, nothing is wrong. In fact, all is perfect. I just felt a fluttering matching what Pemberley’s midwife told me I would feel soon. Our baby just moved. I have just felt the quickening,” Elizabeth reported as she smiled up into his eyes.
“This is the best of news, Lizzy. Now we can share the news with your parents and everyone who will be arriving starting on the morrow. Our local physician who confirmed your state when we arrived home, has full confidence in the midwife. He himself has very high cleanliness standards, and she is one of the few he approves of.” Darcy reminded her why he would only allowed the two of them to attend her.
“Let us return to the house so we can tell our sisters. They have suspected for a while, but have not asked me anything yet.” Mrs. Darcy slid her hand into Mr. Darcy’s and squeezed it gently.
The Darcys walked back into the house and asked Douglas to summon Mrs. Reynolds to join them in the music room where Georgiana and Kitty were playing music.
On seeing their brother and sister enter the room, the two ceased the duet they were playing on the pianoforte and looked questioningly as the housekeeper and butler joined them.
“Sisters, Mrs. Reynolds, and Mr. Douglas, Elizabeth and I have the pleasure of informing you there will be a baby born at Pemberley and should make his or her debut in late May or early June of next year,” Darcy announced with pride.
“Mr. Darcy and I would like for you, Mrs. Reynolds and Mr. Douglas, to inform the staff so there will be no speculation,” Elizabeth smiled as Mrs. Reynolds was bursting with the pleasure of permission to share the news she had known for months.
“Yes, Mr. and Mrs. Darcy, and may I wish you all of the best while you increase Mrs. Darcy,” Mrs. Reynolds enthused, overjoyed at the proof positive the next generation of Darcys was on the way.
Douglas echoed the housekeeper, and the two senior staff members withdrew to allow the family private time, and to start informing the servants of the impending joy.
“Oh my! William! Lizzy! I am to be an aunt! Congratulations, we suspected something but did not feel it was right to ask you.” Georgiana jumped up from the seat in front of the pianoforte.
“Georgie do not forget you will not receive that distinction alone! We are to be aunts, along with the rest of the sisters, sisters-in-laws like Louisa and Marie, and sisters by heart, like Anne! And James and Tom will be uncles before they turn seventeen, but they too will have to share that privilege. I am so happy for both of you. I noticed you were getting larger Lizzy, and I was sure you were not eating too much, but as Georgie said, we did not say anything.” Kitty blushed.
“I suspected before Mary and Jane’s wedding.
It slipped out when we talked the night before, but they were sworn to keep my secret except from their husbands.
Mama and Papa do not know yet. When they arrive tomorrow, Mama will know before I say anything.
” Lizzy laughed. “The real challenge will be the opportunity to act like aunts with Mama and Papa, and Uncle Reggie and Aunt Elaine close by.” Lizzy giggled at Darcy’s frown.
“Perhaps we can set up a schedule.” She winked at him, and he finally smiled.
It was far better to have so many that love you than the loneliness he and Georgiana experienced for so many years. “A schedule is just the thing. I get the first ten years, you the second.” He winked at his wife, making the women surrounding him laugh.
“Actually, Anne wrote and told me she should arrive earlier than planned. She is travelling to Longbourn from Rosings Park. If all went to plan, then she should arrive tomorrow along with the Bennets, Richard and Mary, and the Gardiners. When will the rest of the Fitzwilliams arrive at Pemberley brother?” Georgiana remembered the letter she was meaning to share over tea.
“The Bingleys and the Hursts will get here the day after tomorrow, and the rest of the Fitzwilliams from Snowhaven and Hilldale the following day,” Darcy related.
“Lizzy,” Georgiana feigned minimal interest her blush belied, “when did your father collect the twins from Cambridge?”
“In her last letter, Mama wrote she was very happy to have her boys home. She says they are so grown up now. She mentioned Papa arrived home with them on the tenth of December. They asked her to let William know they are looking forward to riding with him once they are here,” Elizabeth reported, worried about her husband’s reaction to his sister growing up.
“If there is more snow then our brothers, like anyone who wants to, will be able to ride in one of the sleighs we own,” Darcy stated, either not having noticed his sister’s reaction, or pretending well that he had not.
“If Mama does not notice right away, we promise we will say nothing until you tell them, Lizzy,” Kitty vowed.
“Thank you, Kitty, I too believe both Mama and Aunt Maddie will know as soon as they see me, but they may not say anything until I tell them. I am sure Mama and Papa will be ecstatic at the prospect of their first grandchild,” Elizabeth agreed.
“William, will Georgie still travel to Longbourn with me when Mama and Papa return?” Kitty asked, understanding this may change certain plans.
“I can see no reason why not, Kitty. You two will start preparing for your coming out when Aunt Elaine and Uncle Reggie come and collect both of you from Longbourn in February to stay with them at Matlock house. Mary and Richard’s plans may change, and they may not join you.
“The only difference I can foresee is Lizzy and I will not be joining you now and will come back to London for next season, so long as our little one will be healthy, and Mr. Bartholomew has no objection to our son or daughter taking a long carriage trip,” Darcy explained.
“Why would Mary and Richard maybe not join us, brother?” Just then Georgiana realised the probable reason and her lips formed a silent “O”, her eyes wide with the additional surprise.
“Well, now that you have realised what William means, yes, Georgiana, and Kitty? Mary thinks she too is with child, as does Jane. They have not felt the quickening, but both have suffered from sickness in the mornings, so there is no way to hide their condition for long.” Lizzy nodded as Kitty’s eyes widened in excitement.
“There will be three nieces or nephews, or some combination thereof, next year. How wonderful!” Kitty exclaimed.
“Yes, Kitty, we will be able to spoil them all. How I look forward to it.” Georgiana hugged herself and was almost bouncing on her toes.
“Remember Georgie and Kitty, we will have to rely on the Good Lord above to see all of us have successful births and everyone is healthy. I myself feel I and all of my sisters will follow my Mama, who birthed six children with nary a problem, so I am not worried.” Looking at her husband, Lizzy smiled gently.
“Your brother will do all the worrying for the both of us.”
The ladies giggled and Darcy looked chagrined. He remembered the trouble his dearly departed mother had suffered aside from the births of himself and his sister. His father had once shared with him that each one of her disappointments had taken a toll on Lady Anne, both emotionally and physically.
He did know he could not smother Lizzy with his worry, and what she said about her mother was the truth. With lack of reason to worry, he decided although he would be vigilant, he would attempt to temper his need to control everything concerning her health.
His Lizzy had not reacted well the one time he had attempted officious control. And honestly, he loved her the more for it. He had tried to force her to stay abed so she told him everything he told her to do; he had to do with her.