Chapter 3
The next morning, the Darcys rose at their usual early hour and spent several hours enjoying one another’s company before breaking their fasts.
Jane joined them at the table but Bingley only drug himself into the breakfast room just before the clock struck nine, yawning and groaning over the ungodly hour.
Darcy teased him about his town upbringing as he loaded a plate full of potatoes, eggs, and several rashers of bacon.
“We began to wonder if you would ever awaken,” Jane teased her husband in her gentle manner. “It was such a long trip from town that I am sure you are tired. The beds at Pemberley are certainly more comfortable than the inns.”
“Yes indeed,” he agreed tucking into his breakfast. “What shall we do today? Do we have any plans?”
“You are welcome to go for a short ride with me,” Darcy invited, nursing his coffee. “Or we could go fishing in one of the streams nearby. I do not want to be too far from the house in case Elizabeth’s time begins.”
“But you shall not be attending her in any case,” Bingley remarked, a pout forming on his lips. “Why should it matter if you are near?”
Darcy took a steadying breath and replied, “It may not be fashionable, but I refuse to abandon Elizabeth during such a sensitive time. I will be at her side so long as she allows me and if she sends me away, I shall stay in the next room. If I could take her pain on myself, I would.”
Bingley choked on his eggs and began to cough. “You would attend the birth?”
“I will.”
Elizabeth smiled happily at her husband and reached for his hand. “This is a joint endeavor, and we are determined to see it though together.”
“But what will people say?”
“What people? What business is it of theirs what I do?” Darcy glared at his friend.
“But Caroline…” Bingley looked around the table at all of the incredulity and let the words die unspoken.
“Your sister has entirely too much unwarranted control of your lives,” Elizabeth observed.
“What she does in her own marriage is of course her business. Your marriage is between you and Jane, and she has nothing at all to do with William and myself. I would suggest that you speak with your wife on matters of importance to both of you, rather than canvasing your sister instead.”
Bingley looked away with flushed cheeks, unwilling to discuss things further.
He had so long relied on Caroline’s wisdom that he did not know what his own wishes were.
Caroline was always so sure of the correct way of doing things, and after all, she had never led him astray in the past. The tiniest of voices reminded him that she had attempted to separate him from his beloved Jane, but he brushed it aside, sure that she regretted her interference as she and Jane were such dear friends now.
“When does Lady Matlock arrive? Will your companion not be joining us?” Jane asked, changing the subject by addressing Georgiana. She appreciated Elizabeth’s attempts to support her, but the discomfort on her husband’s face hurt her deeply and she could not help but act.
“She will be here by eleven,” Georgiana answered shyly. “Mrs. Ansley left at first light to visit her daughter. She does not feel it is her place to eat with the family when we have company.”
“Please remind her that she is always welcome if it is because of Charles and I. We know how close she is to you and it seems unfair to force her to dine on her own just because we are here.” Jane urged sweetly.
Georgiana agreed with a nod, and they spoke of Pemberley and the growing things, the tenants, and the servants until Bingley had finished his repast before they all retired to the family sitting room.
Elizabeth and Darcy both had stacks of correspondence to see to, and they chatted with the Bingleys as they did so.
Jane also had received a long newsy letter from Longbourne which she read aloud to the room until she reached the last two pages.
She trailed off when her mother began to make recommendations on how to seduce her husband to her bed as she warned her that her failure to fall with child was a black mark on the family and that her husband would look elsewhere for his needs if she was not doing her duty by him.
She blushed in mortification at the vulgar and quite explicit instructions for making a male offspring rather than a female and crumpled the sheets.
“Jane?” Elizabeth called worriedly from her seat at the desk. “Is all well?”
“YES! er, yes, everyone at Longbourne is well,” she squeaked hiding the offending pages behind her back. She was saved from further interrogation by Mrs. Reynold’s entrance followed closely by Lady Matlock.
“Lizzy! Georgie!” her ladyship cried as she flew into the room. “I could barely sleep for excitement, and we left earlier than planned. I am so pleased to see you looking so well. It will not be long now. How I wish I could be here to attend you, but my darling Georgiana has need of me.”
Elizabeth laughed at the unstoppable cascade of words and used her husband’s strength to lumber to her feet to accept her own affectionate embrace after her ladyship had finished with Georgiana.
“Aunt Elaine, you know we would be pleased to see you no matter the time! Did you break your fast before you left? I am certain that Mrs. Reynolds will return momentarily with sustenance.”
“I could barely eat a thing!” she exclaimed, urging Elizabeth back to her seat and accepting her nephew’s former seat beside her. “We shall have such fun at Matlock, Georgiana. And when we return there shall be a new little person to cuddle and spoil!”
“I cannot wait to meet him,” Georgiana practically gushed.
Mrs. Reynolds was quick with the tea tray and Elizabeth once again served everyone while Lady Matlock expounded on her plans for Georgiana’s entertainment.
As the housekeeper left the room, she was shouldered aside by the entrance of Caroline wearing an entirely inappropriate gown for a morning in the country.
She struck a pose in the doorway and held out her hands. “My dear Lady Matlock, how pleased we are to have you join us. I must apologize for my tardy appearance, but the servants had neglected to inform me that you had arrived. Welcome to Pemberley!”
Lady Matlock’s expressive face froze instantly into a severe mask of hauteur. “Darcy, who is this ill-mannered person who acts as if she, and not my darling Lizzy, is the mistress of your home?”
Bingley and Jane blushed in mortification as Caroline gaped. It was obvious that she had hoped to force an introduction to the countess-- a long-desired connection-- and was mortified that Lady Matlock had not chosen to politely accept her outrageous overreach.
“She is the sister of my friend Bingley,” Darcy drawled. “I am unsure what delusion she suffers under, but I assure you that the servants well know who their mistress is.”
“Hmm,” she sniffed, turning away from the now purple Caroline. “How rude to show up uninvited at a time when it is obvious only family should be here. You are kinder than myself. I should never have allowed her entrance. Have you finished packing, my love?”
“Yes aunt, Betsy finished yestereve. I am prepared to leave whenever you wish,” Georgiana whispered, unnerved by the whole encounter.
“Good. Jane darling, be a dear and give your sister and I a moment alone.”
Jane immediately rose and ushered her husband and still silent sister-in-law from the room. Lady Matlock glared at her nephew and new niece as they went.
“There is such a thing as being too polite, my dears. One need not accept the bad behavior of others… unless it is the regent.” She grinned.
“I am sorry to create a scene but honestly, the gall of that woman. She already has the worst reputation in London. I would not trust her as far as I could throw her. Keep your eyes open and be aware of your surroundings Elizabeth.”
“You do not think that Miss Bingley would harm her!” Georgiana cried.
“I would put nothing past her. She spent years declaring that she would marry Pemberley to all who would listen. Childbirth is a sensitive time for any woman.”
“She may be crass, and an encroaching mushroom, but I highly doubt that she would attempt to harm me physically,” Elizabeth laughed. “And as her attempts to belittle me and usurp my place are exceedingly humorous, there is little else she can do.”
“I shall have her watched,” Darcy replied with a frown.
“Honestly my love—”
“It is a matter of your safety, Elizabeth.”
Having agreed to never question his pronouncements where her safety was concerned, Elizabeth let it be.
It was worth his agreement that everything else would be discussed to her satisfaction.
Shaking her head in affectionate exasperation, she embraced Georgiana and her ladyship and bid them safe travels.
“Do send word the moment you enter your confinement,” Lady Matlock ordered as they traversed the hall back toward the foyer.
“Of course,” Elizabeth promised. “Mrs. Reynolds already has her instructions, and we have hired several express riders for just such a purpose.”
“Take care of her, William.”
Darcy nodded soberly and kissed his aunt on the cheek before assisting her into the carriage.
Georgiana received the same treatment and lowered the glass after the door was shut so that she could wave to them.
They waved back until the carriage was out of sight before Darcy assisted his wife back to the house.
∞∞∞